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| Thyssenkrupp |
Investment follows exit from HKM offtake agreement
Thyssenkrupp Steel is moving to secure the future of its medium-wide strip production by upgrading a continuous casting line at its Duisburg-Nord site. This strategic investment comes as the company prepares to terminate its offtake agreement with Hüttenwerke Krupp-Mannesmann (HKM) after 2032.
The upgrade involves the installation of a divider, enabling the facility to cast narrow slabs needed for medium-wide strip production. The required investment—reported to be in the high double-digit million euro range—has already received board approval.
Thyssenkrupp has long sourced narrow slabs from HKM, which it rolls into medium-wide strip (approx. 600 mm width) at its Hohenlimburg site. This steel grade is critical for automotive applications and precision industrial components, such as blades and small car parts that require tight tolerances.
According to a veteran industry observer, producing medium-wide strip from dedicated facilities offers processing advantages over slitting standard strip widths. "It allows for higher rolling pressure, which is essential for forming high-carbon, hard steels," the expert notes.
A spokesperson from Thyssenkrupp Steel confirmed the company’s commitment to this niche segment:
“The final products are often small in terms of tonnage, but they are crucial for applications with very specific requirements.”
She added that Thyssenkrupp Steel is now the only European steelmaker still producing medium-wide strip on dedicated facilities, a capability increasingly rare in today’s market.
Historically, multiple EU steelmakers produced medium-wide strip, but most have shifted to slitting wider coils due to economic and operational pressures. Thyssenkrupp’s decision reflects a continued focus on customer-specific grades and high-performance applications, despite the added complexity of specialized production.
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