Tata Bluescope Steel introduces improved Zincalume steel

Mumbai: The equal joint venture between Tata Steel and Australia's BlueScope Steel, Tata BlueScope Steel, today announced the introduction of its new, Zincalume steel with improved properties.

Tata BlueScope Steel markets BlueScope Steel's premium coated steel brands, Colorbond and Zincalume coated steel, to the South Asian markets.

"Zinc and aluminium alloy coated steel is preferred over zinc coated (Galvanised) steel, due to its superior resistance to corrosion," said Chetan Tolia, managing director, Tata BlueScope Steel. "Improved Zincalume steel also has enhanced aesthetics."

A supplier of zinc-aluminium alloy coated steel in India; Tata Bluescope has introduced advanced metallic-coated steel for the building and construction industry, which it will now supply in addition to its pre-painted Colorbond steel for roofing and wall cladding applications.

Tata BlueScope Steel currently imports the coated steel products from BlueScope Steel, Australasia. The coated steel manufacturing plant of the company is currently under construction at Jamshedpur. This facility has metal coating line with 250,000 tonnes per annum capacity and a paint line with 150,000 tonnes per annum capacity.

The company counts higher durability, excellent design flexibility, better thermal efficiency and environment-friendly credentials, among the other benefits of Zincalume that make it a widely accepted coated steel product for the construction industry.

Zincalume steel with AZ150 coating, on an average lasts up to four times longer than galvanised steel Z275, of equivalent coating thickness, in similar environment conditions, the company said in a statement.

According to Darren Pye, chief marketing and business development, Tata BlueScope Steel, said, "Aesthetics is a major issue in the construction industry and the new coating technology will help in providing a long lasting, uniform physical appearance and sustained good looks across the application."

The improved Zincalume steel has better resistance to early corrosion, and retains its uniform metallic look for longer time. It exhibits superior long-term surface appearance when compared with other metallic coated steel products. Improved Zincalume steel also helps in reduction in energy cost due to better reflectivity over a longer period.

Zincalume was unveiled at a steel seminar for the construction industry in Chennai and will be followed up with similar events in Mumbai and Delhi.

In August 2006 the company inaugurated its first roll forming and pre-engineered building facility near the IT Park at Hinjewadi, on the outskirts of Pune. In December it opened its second Lysaght building components and systems manufacturing facility at Bhiwadi in Rajasthan and further strengthened its position in the steel construction industry with the opening of its third building components and systems manufacturing facility at Sriperumbudur, near Chennai.

Together the three plants represent an investment of $A100 million in a network of three building solutions facilities by the Australian company.