THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

ROURKELA, APRIL 28, 2026

The Sheet Shearing Line (SSL) of Hot Strip Mill-2 (HSM-2) at SAIL-run Rourkela Steel Plant has scripted a new chapter in operational excellence, achieving record-breaking performance during the financial year 2025-26.

Operating at an impressive capacity utilisation of 78 per cent, the line registered its highest-ever annual production of 0.313 million tonnes of hot-rolled plates, surpassing the previous best of 0.265 million tonnes by a remarkable 18 per cent. The achievement reflects the team's unwavering commitment to efficiency, innovation and customer satisfaction, even amid challenging market conditions.

Further underscoring its stellar performance, the SSL also recorded its best-ever daily production of 1,477 tonnes, highlighting its enhanced capability to meet the growing demand for high-quality hot-rolled plates.

This outstanding feat was made possible through a series of proactive maintenance initiatives and innovative in-house modifications. Key improvements included the replacement and modification of Leveler-1 cassettes, which effectively addressed waviness defects — a critical concern for customers. Additionally, modifications to the flying shear chain assembly, precise adjustments to shear blade gaps, and enhancements to the mandrel uncoiler significantly improved equipment reliability, availability and operational uptime.

By successfully overcoming challenges such as plate waviness through cost-effective indigenous solutions, the SSL has not only enhanced product quality and operational reliability but has also positioned itself to manufacture wider-profile hot-rolled plates, unlocking new market opportunities.

With these advancements, the line is now fully geared to produce wider hot-rolled plates, reinforcing SAIL's focus on expanding its value-added product portfolio and driving sustainable growth. The achievement also reflects Rourkela Steel Plant's ongoing modernisation efforts, which continue to set new benchmarks in steel manufacturing excellence.

 THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

ROURKELA, APRIL 28, 2026

The Sheet Shearing Line (SSL) of Hot Strip Mill-2 (HSM-2) at SAIL-run Rourkela Steel Plant has scripted a new chapter in operational excellence, achieving record-breaking performance during the financial year 2025-26.

Operating at an impressive capacity utilisation of 78 per cent, the line registered its highest-ever annual production of 0.313 million tonnes of hot-rolled plates, surpassing the previous best of 0.265 million tonnes by a remarkable 18 per cent. The achievement reflects the team's unwavering commitment to efficiency, innovation and customer satisfaction, even amid challenging market conditions.

Further underscoring its stellar performance, the SSL also recorded its best-ever daily production of 1,477 tonnes, highlighting its enhanced capability to meet the growing demand for high-quality hot-rolled plates.

This outstanding feat was made possible through a series of proactive maintenance initiatives and innovative in-house modifications. Key improvements included the replacement and modification of Leveler-1 cassettes, which effectively addressed waviness defects — a critical concern for customers. Additionally, modifications to the flying shear chain assembly, precise adjustments to shear blade gaps, and enhancements to the mandrel uncoiler significantly improved equipment reliability, availability and operational uptime.

By successfully overcoming challenges such as plate waviness through cost-effective indigenous solutions, the SSL has not only enhanced product quality and operational reliability but has also positioned itself to manufacture wider-profile hot-rolled plates, unlocking new market opportunities.

With these advancements, the line is now fully geared to produce wider hot-rolled plates, reinforcing SAIL's focus on expanding its value-added product portfolio and driving sustainable growth. The achievement also reflects Rourkela Steel Plant's ongoing modernisation efforts, which continue to set new benchmarks in steel manufacturing excellence.