The Plate Rolling Dept. of Pohang Works held a ceremony to commemorate the completion of improvements in the Plate Mill II on July 27th, making its first step to launching a system of high-quality steel production.

Many executive members and employees of POSCO including President Chang Oh Kang, representatives from 42 clients including Samsung Heavy Industries and Hyundai Heavy Industries, and representatives from about 10 suppliers including Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Siemens, attended the ceremony to offer their congratulations.

Improvements in the plant were undertaken for 16 months from April 2004, with applied blasting and shearer transfer techniques completing all processes on June 2, 2005, five days earlier than scheduled.

The first process after completion was achieved on July 15th, 45 days ahead of the general processing schedule. The impressive skill shown by the operators and the high level of preparation achieved by all involved astonished many authorities in the steel industry.

As a result of the improvements, plate rolling production capacity of the Plate Mill II has been increased by 0.4 million tons and the rolling reduction of rolling mill to 2,000 tons; the cooling capacity of its online accelerated cooling facility has also been expanded to increase production of high-strength, high-quality steel.