Primetals Technologies USA (https://www.primetals.com) reports that Celsa France has issued a Final Acceptance Certificate (FAC) for a major wire rod mill upgrade in Bayonne. The project raises productivity, improves quality, and reduces operating costs.
Primetals replaced a troublesome finishing block and reform station. The old equipment caused frequent unplanned downtime and production losses. With the new line, Celsa France now runs with higher availability and output.
The upgrade adds a 10‑stand Morgan Vee No‑Twist Mill. It rolls low‑, medium‑, and high‑carbon steel at speeds up to 105 meters per second. A 3‑Hi speed increaser gearbox links the new mill to the existing motor. The design keeps the layout flexible and compatible with the original drive position.
These changes deliver faster rolling and lower maintenance. They also shorten roll change times and improve operating consistency. Primetals installed a 1,200 mm reform tub with a patented ring distributor. The new tub lowers coil height, prevents stray rings, and keeps payoff tangle‑free.
Downstream delays have dropped. Overall mill productivity has increased. Celsa France, described as Europe’s first circular, low‑emission steel producer, recycles ferrous scrap in electric arc furnaces. It supplies steel for construction, automotive, energy, and oil and gas markets.
The Bayonne upgrade supports this circular model. It makes wire rod production more efficient and more environmentally responsible. The site produces about 550,000 tons of rolled products per year, mostly wire rod. The project also builds on an earlier €65‑million investment that created about 140 direct and 420 indirect jobs in France and Spain.