A breakthrough has been achieved on No.5 billet caster of Minmetals Yingkou Plates Co. supplied by CISDI in commercial tests recently, setting a new casting speed record in China, i.e. producing 160mmx160mm billets of HRB400 at a speed over 4.2m/min.

Core equipment and technologies of CISDI, such as high-speed mold, high-speed secondary cooling system and a lot of patented technologies have been applied to the billet caster. After upgrading the technological equipment of the 8^th strand and the water system, optimizing the process and control parameters, and monitoring the locations of the solidification end points, the billet caster has been found successfully operational with a casting speed higher than 4.2m/min., 30% higher than before during the comparative tests made on different steel grades and different types of copper tubes.

Casting at a higher speed represents the development direction of casting technology. The success in the commercial tests proves the great advance in continuous billet casting technology, which will significantly enhance the billet casting efficiency, thus ensure technologically the steel producers to obtain tremendous economic and social benefits by increasing efficiency with fewer strands, saving energy while reducing effluents.