Inauguration of IRIS, Institute of Research of Iron and Steel, for Sha Steel in China

摘要

Shagang (Sha Steel in English) group is the biggest private group of integrated steel companies, ranked No.4 among steel companies in P. R. China with annual crude steel production capacity of 35million tons. It is located about 150km north to Shanghai along the south bank near the mouth of Yangtze River. The group includes flagship steel works with three 2500m~3 BF and a 5800m~3 BF. two integrated specialty steel companies, one joint venture stainless steel company and an integrated long product company. Sha Steel group intended to step into high grade steel production for sustainable development after successful jump from EAF based 1 million ton per year wire & rod mill to the current state in about 10 years. The group inaugurated the establishment of a research and development organization, named IRIS (Institute of Research of Iron and Steel) in February 2007. This was the first attempt among private steel companies in P. R. China, although state owned steel companies have run their R & D organization long time. Technological level of R & D of IRIS is still in catch up stage, but birth and growth to childhood of IRIS from nothing in 3 years in rapidly growing China might be of some interest to those who are concerned.