With a planned annual production capacity of up to 400,000 tonnes of rebar, Ecoacero, a member of the Estrella Group, is positioning itself as a leading supplier for the flourishing construction industry in the Caribbean and Central America.
SMS group has been commissioned to build a modern rebar mill for Ecoacero. The plant will be located near Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic.
With this strategic step, the Estrella Group is aiming to strengthen and network its group companies. The diversification aims to create a high-performance portfolio that meets the increasing demands of the construction industry in the Caribbean and Central America. The Group is one of the largest construction services and products groups in the region.
The new Ecoacero plant will bring to the market a wide range of rebar steel grades specifically tailored to the needs of different segments of the construction industry. The aim is to meet the highest international quality standards.
Steelworks and electric arc furnace
The sustainable project will be realised in two phases. In the upcoming phase, steel production will be integrated through the construction of a steelworks with a continuous casting plant using scrap as a feedstock.
SMS's scope of supply and services includes the planning and construction of the complete rebar mill as well as the supply of the mechanical and electrical equipment.
A reheating furnace for billets, a MEERdrive® finishing block and water boxes for the QST process are part of the project. The entire rolling mill is controlled by SMS automation systems linked to process optimisation systems.
The second phase involves the construction of an electric arc furnace (EAF). State-of-the-art burner and oxygen injection technology will ensure a reduction in CO2 emissions and operating costs. The EAF is fuelled with scrap and is equipped with the latest SMS technologies. The entire process line of melting, refining and casting will be monitored by the X Pact® Level 2 system, a seamless interface to the Phase 1 rolling mill. The plant is scheduled to go into operation in early 2025.
