POSCO Starts Up Morgan Mill
WORCESTER, Mass., February 4, 2002

Pohang Iron and Steel Company (POSCO), of Pohang, Korea, has successfully started up its recently installed upgraded #3 mill.

Designed and installed by Worcester, Mass.- based Morgan Construction Company, the mill includes equipment supplied under a consortium between Morgan and POSCO Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd., of Pohang, Kyungsangbuk-Do, Republic of Korea, with electronics supplied by ABB Automation Systems AB of Vasteras Sweden.

Joseph Rinaldi, Project Manager, explained that the startup was done in two phases.

"Phase 1, which took place in November 2001, consisted of an eight (8)-day line stop whereby the existing No. 2 water boxes were removed and replaced with static troughs. Piping to existing water boxes No. 1 was modified to independent (separate) water box operation.

"During the interim period between Phase 1 and the Phase 2 final revamp, the mill operated with remaining water boxes 1 and 3." He added, "The removal of the existing water boxes enabled the civil construction to proceed together with rerouting of cables and pipes."

The two-strand mill is an upgrade of a Morgan mill that originally commenced operation in 1988 and is the largest of the company's three mills.

As part of the upgrade, Morgan installed the following new equipment for each strand: a Morgan Reducing/Sizing Mill (RSM), plus an off-line quick-change RSM, pinch roll, laying head, traversing water boxes, ring distributor, and shear modification. The start up completes a contract initially announced in October 2000.

Rinaldi added, "The upgrade will provide POSCO with the ability to produce rod at temperatures as low as 750 degrees C, and at speeds of up to 110 meters per second. As a result of the upgrade, the company's output for the two strands will increase from 700,000 tonnes to 820,000 tonnes per year."

Morgan also provided POSCO with a Morgan Enhanced Temperature Control System (METCS); Morgan Bearing Temperature Monitor (MBTM); and a Morgan Vibration Monitoring System (MVMS).

Morgan Construction Company, is a designer and producer of high-quality rolling mill products and services for the metal industry worldwide.

Questions or comments can be e-mailed to: sales@morganco.com