Partnering with Shandong Zhongxin to deliver High-End Galvanizing and Continuous Annealing Lines

John Cockerill has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Shandong Zhongxin Metallurgical Materials Co., Ltd., a core subsidiary of Shandong Yongfeng Group, for the supply of a high-end automotive sheet galvanizing line and a high-strength continuous annealing line.

The two customized production lines will address key gaps in Shandong Zhongxin’s cold-rolling deep-processing capabilities and support the company’s ambition to reach a total cold-rolling deep-processing capacity of 2.25 million tonnes. Once commissioned, the lines are expected to deliver an annual output of more than 500,000 tonnes of high-quality automotive steel and 850,000 tonnes of annealed sheets, effectively filling a regional gap in high-end automotive steel processing.

This cooperation further demonstrates John Cockerill’s technological leadership in advanced steel processing equipment and lays a solid foundation for long-term strategic collaboration between the two companies.

Customized Core Lines for High-End Automotive Steel Production

With nearly 220 years of expertise in steel processing technologies and more than 40 years of experience in continuous galvanizing lines, John Cockerill has supplied over 120 high-end galvanizing lines worldwide, including 30 lines dedicated to automotive steel, covering advanced high-strength steels and exposed automotive panels. Its solutions are trusted by leading global steelmakers such as ArcelorMittal, Tata Steel, Shougang Group, Maanshan Iron & Steel, Shagang Group, and VAMA.

Building on this extensive track record, John Cockerill will design two core production lines for Shandong Zhongxin that integrate multiple proprietary and patented technologies, fully meeting the stringent requirements for lightweighting, high strength, corrosion resistance, and superior surface quality demanded by the automotive industry.

Automotive Sheet Galvanizing Line

The galvanizing line is designed to process steel strips with a thickness range of 0.4–2.5 mm and a maximum width of 1,900 mm, supporting mainstream coating products such as GI (hot-dip galvanized) and ZAM (hot-dip zinc-aluminium-magnesium). It incorporates advanced features including high-efficiency vertical electrolytic cleaning, electromagnetic automatic slag removal, and automatic slag fishing. The line is equipped with John Cockerill’s patented Blow Stab® Generation 2 steel strip anti-shake cooling system, ensuring precise temperature control and stable strip behavior during cooling. Combined with an automatic surface inspection system, the line guarantees consistent product quality suitable for demanding automotive applications.

High-Strength Continuous Annealing Line

The continuous annealing line is specifically designed for the production of advanced and ultra-high-strength steels (AHSS/UHSS), processing strips with a thickness of 0.25–2.5 mm and a maximum width of 1,900 mm. It directly supports the lightweighting and high-strength requirements of new energy vehicles and premium passenger cars.

Equipped with high-efficiency vertical electrolytic cleaning and a 6-high temper mill, the line enables precise control of mechanical properties and ensures uniform, stable product performance. Integrated scrap-edge processing solutions—including precision trimming, scrap chopping, and briquetting—enable fully automated, high-precision operation from raw material preparation to finished product delivery, significantly improving production efficiency and resource utilization.

Full-Lifecycle Services to Ensure Project Success

As a trusted global industrial partner, John Cockerill will provide end-to-end lifecycle services for the project, covering process design, core equipment engineering and manufacturing, on-site installation supervision, commissioning, operator training, and long-term maintenance support.

A dedicated project team—comprising senior process engineers, equipment specialists, and a localized service organization—will work closely with Shandong Zhongxin to optimize line layout, process parameters, and operating practices. Through an efficient response mechanism, John Cockerill will ensure timely resolution of technical challenges, on-schedule commissioning, and stable long-term operation, safeguarding the customer’s investment and accelerating the ramp-up of high-end production capacity.

Advancing Low-Carbon and Intelligent Steel Manufacturing

The partnership with Shandong Zhongxin further confirms John Cockerill’s strong technological capabilities, customization expertise, and market recognition. Looking ahead, the Group will continue to place the Chinese market at the heart of its strategy while accelerating innovation aligned with low-carbon transformation and high-end upgrading in the global steel industry.

John Cockerill is actively advancing next-generation technologies, including Volteron® and Jet Vapor Deposition (JVD®), to deliver integrated, efficient, and sustainable steelmaking solutions. Through these innovations, John Cockerill will continue to work alongside global partners to accelerate the transition toward green manufacturing and a circular economy, empowering the high-quality and sustainable development of the steel industry.