New Addition to Industry-Specific Products: Successful Trial Production of RE800W Ultra-High Strength Weathering Steel

February 17, 2025 — A 53-foot special container was successfully produced at Qingdao CIMC Container Manufacturing Co., Ltd., marking the first successful trial production of RE800W ultra-high strength weathering steel independently designed and developed by Rizhao Steel. This achievement signifies a new milestone in expanding the product portfolio of weathering steel toward "industry-specific, differentiated, high-end, and environmentally friendly" development goals, further solidifying the company’s competitiveness in the high-end steel market.

As one of the company’s flagship products, weathering steel has consistently maintained its leading market share in the container industry, supported by efficient collaboration across sales, R&D, production, quality control, and logistics to ensure superior product specifications, delivery timelines, quality, transportation, and service. In November 2024, during technical marketing visits and client exchanges, the company learned that only two domestic steel mills could supply cold-rolled raw materials for 800MPa-grade weathering steel. After thorough communication with client technical teams to fully understand their requirements, Rizhao Steel’s Technical Quality Department organized joint feasibility discussions with its Weathering Steel Sales Division and ESP Thin Plate Plant. Addressing challenges such as high strength, thin thickness, and the need to balance formability, weldability, and coating performance, the team leveraged the advantages of the ESP production line to develop a "hot-rolled substitution for cold-rolled products."

From identifying client needs in November 2024 to successfully producing three coils of 1.2×1180 mm RE800W ultra-high strength weathering steel on January 14, 2025, the entire development process was completed within two months, demonstrating the high efficiency of Rizhao Steel’s technical marketing model. Throughout the development phase, dedicated personnel monitored each step to ensure quality and timely delivery. After supplying the product in February, the company dispatched technical experts to oversee the trial production at the client’s facility. Test results confirmed that all performance metrics met requirements. Compared to cold-rolled products, the new material eliminates a degreasing step in processing, improves raw material elongation by 10% for better formability and reduced springback, and enhances paint adhesion without drips—resolving a common issue with cold-rolled materials.

This breakthrough not only enriches Rizhao Steel’s high-end product portfolio but also sets a benchmark for green transformation in the steel industry. The successful "hot-rolled substitution for cold-rolled" development of high-value-added products marks another milestone in Rizhao Steel’s pursuit of high-quality growth driven by technological innovation. Moving forward, the company will continue adhering to its "customer-centric" philosophy, delivering superior and greener steel solutions to contribute to a new chapter in China’s steel industry.