Hazira/New Delhi: ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS India) has commissioned a new state-of-the-art Pickling Line and Tandem Cold Mill (PLTCM) at its flagship facility in Hazira, Gujarat.
The advanced production line was formally inaugurated by Ambassador of Japan to India Keiichi Ono.
With an annual capacity of 2 million tonnes, the facility will produce high-quality cold-rolled base steel that will serve as feedstock for a range of world-class products, including first-of-its-kind and patented Advanced High Strength Steel (AHSS) solutions developed by parent companies ArcelorMittal and Nippon Steel, a company release
It further noted that the inauguration marks a major step toward achieving full self-reliance in the production of Advanced High Strength Steel (AHSS), which is increasingly in demand by India’s fast-growing automotive sector. The line is among the most advanced in the country, featuring cutting-edge process technology, superior automation, and globally benchmarked quality systems. It will support the manufacturing of various premium automotive steel grades, including AHSS (with strength levels up to 1180 MPa), Galvannealed (GA), Galvanised (GI), and Press Hardened Steel (PHS). These products are designed to meet stringent global sustainability standards, enable vehicle lightweighting for better fuel efficiency and performance, and enhance passenger safety in line with Bharat NCAP (BNCAP) norms.
The new unit significantly boosts AM/NS India’s downstream capabilities and forms part of the company’s ongoing ₹60,000-crore expansion project at the Hazira plant, aimed at developing both upstream and downstream infrastructure, it added.
Speaking at the inauguration, the Japanese Ambassador said: “I co
ngratulate AM/NS India on the commencement of production at its state-of-the-art automotive steel sheet production line at the Hazira plant. Japanese advanced technology has contributed significantly to the launch of high-end steel product manufacturing in India. This signifies that Japan’s contribution to the ‘Make in India, Make for the World’ initiative has entered a new phase.”
He added that Japan and India share a mutually complementary relationship, with Japan’s technology and capital complemented by India’s manufacturing capacity and growing demand.
“ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India is firmly committed to the ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiatives. Guided by our brand promise – ‘Smarter Steels, Brighter Futures’ – we are building state-of-the-art steelmaking assets by leveraging the unparalleled technology and expertise of our parent companies,” Chief Executive Officer of ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India Dilip Oommen.
He emphasised that the new PLTCM will support import substitution, strengthen supply chain resilience, and help the automotive industry transition towards safer, lighter, and more sustainable mobility solutions. “This reinforces India’s position as a competitive manufacturing hub aligned with the requirements of next-generation vehicles,” Oommen added.
India’s current demand for high-quality flat steel for automotive applications stands at approximately 7.8 million tonnes per annum and is projected to grow at 6-7% annually. As the country has emerged as the world’s third-largest automobile producer with ambitions to become the second largest, access to world-class automotive steel is becoming increasingly critical.
ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India is a joint venture between global steel giants ArcelorMittal and Nippon Steel. The company currently operates with a crude steel capacity of 9 million tonnes per annum and has ambitious expansion plans, including an 8.2 million tonnes per annum integrated steel plant in Andhra Pradesh. It is also the only integrated steel company in India to receive the Green Steel Certificate from the Ministry of Steel.