Electrical Steel Processing Expansion at Vijayanagar Works

JSW Steel and Fives Group have entered into a cooperation agreement for the development of electrical steel processing facilities at JSW Steel's Vijayanagar Works in Toranagallu, India. The project, executed in consortium with John Cockerill, supports the production of non-grain-oriented electrical steel used in electric vehicles and industrial electric motors.

Industrial Context and Project Objectives
The project is part of JSW Steel's expansion into the electrical steel segment, aligning with India's objective of increasing domestic steel production capacity and strengthening manufacturing capabilities for emerging industries such as electric mobility. Non-grain-oriented electrical steel is a critical material for electric motors, where magnetic performance and energy efficiency directly influence equipment performance.

The cooperation combines JSW Steel's steel manufacturing operations with the process engineering and thermal treatment expertise of Fives Group and the strip processing capabilities of John Cockerill. The partnership addresses the technical complexity of producing advanced electrical steel grades that require tightly controlled thermal and surface treatment processes.

Technical Solution and Partner Responsibilities
The project includes the design and construction of three processing lines:

• One Annealing and Pickling Line (APL) with an annual production capacity of 600,000 metric tonnes

• Two Annealing and Coating Lines (ACLs), each with an annual production capacity of 270,000 metric tonnes

Under the consortium arrangement, Fives Group will design and supply the annealing furnaces for all three lines. The furnaces are responsible for the thermal treatment stages that determine the metallurgical structure and magnetic properties of the electrical steel. Precise temperature control during annealing is essential for achieving the required strip quality, magnetic performance and mechanical characteristics of NGO electrical steel.

John Cockerill contributes strip processing line expertise and integration capabilities, while JSW Steel will operate the facilities within its existing manufacturing complex.

Implementation at Vijayanagar Works
The new lines will be installed at the Vijayanagar Works facility in Toranagallu, one of India's largest integrated steel production sites. The processing infrastructure will be integrated into the existing manufacturing environment, enabling the production of specialized electrical steel grades alongside other steel products.

The project covers engineering, equipment supply and installation of thermal processing systems required for large-scale production of electrical steel.

Applications and Expected Impact
The facility will supply NGO electrical steel for electric vehicle traction motors, industrial motors and other electrical equipment requiring efficient magnetic materials. These applications depend on controlled metallurgical properties to reduce energy losses and improve motor efficiency.

By establishing domestic electrical steel processing capacity, the project is expected to support local supply chains for e-mobility and industrial manufacturing while reducing dependence on imported specialized steel products. The cooperation also expands India's capability to manufacture advanced steel grades for high-value industrial applications.

Edited by Sucithra Mani, Induportals editor – adapted by AI.

www.fivesgroup.com