BSRM, the steel giant in Bangladesh, has began producing 50mm reinforcing steel only for the Padma Bridge, which is the first largest diameter rebar in Bangladesh. This rebar is produced at BSRM steels plant at Fouzderhat, Chittagong, making BSRM the sole manufacturer of 50mm diameter reinforcing steel in the sub-continent.
"We have gone through a trial production for higher diameter bars to target the ideal choice of material for large structures in Bangladesh, where they are expected to survive over a hundred years,” said Aameir Alihussain, group managing director of BSRM. “We have successfully supplied 50mm bars only for the Padma Bridge. Major Bridge Engineering Company (MBEC), the Chinese contractor for Padma Bridge, has taken 216 tonnes worth of bridge materials from BSRM.”
“We were being able to roll from 8mm to 40mm diameter reinforcing steel quite efficiently since 2008. In 2015, we had successfully made production of 50 mm diameter rebars that met the international standards,” said M Firoze, BSRM head of marketing and product development. He also added, “We are excited to be the first manufacturer in the sub-continent who has achieved this milestone. The large diameter steel is fully complying to the demanding UK standard BS 4449, with Grade class 500C being fabricated into cages for piling work on the Padma Bridge viaduct.”
The feat was accomplished by BSRM's team of dedicated engineers and specialists who possess the knowledge, experience, skills, material base and production culture to ensure quality and compliance to standards, starting from raw material selection to melting, refining, billet casting, rolling to final heat treatment of the 50mm bar.
After inauguration of main bridge works by the Prime Minister last December, the piling works of Padma Bridge is are being carried out emphatically.
Successful steel companies, even those catering to a specific, narrow market segment, construction for instance, have a bouquet of products. As a part their novelty, BSRM is now catering to niche markets with specialised needs. The successful production of 50mm diameter reinforcing steel is one of their recent improvements.
