BlueScope has announced an investment in state-of-the-art stretch-levelling technology for the manufacture of coil plate in Australia.

This technology sees BlueScope introduce a new product, not used before in BlueScope's Australian domestic product range. TRU-SPEC® steel will provide excellent product quality and consistency, while also allowing significant enhancements to BlueScope's market offer for coil plate products.

With supply of TRU-SPEC® steel to commence to customers from October 2014, the new processing line will be installed adjacent to the Hot Strip Mill at BlueScope's Port Kembla steelworks.

BlueScope has utilised the expertise of industry leaders in stretch-levelling technology, Leveltek International LLC in West Virginia USA, and industry leaders in steel processing equipment, The Bradbury Group in Kansas USA.

This investment means that BlueScope can provide its domestic coil plate customers with an industry leading standard of consistently flat and memory free coil plate products. TRU-SPEC® steel is expected to have a significant positive impact for customers with improvement in consistency of cutting, bending and press forming performance.

The flatness and consistency of TRUSPEC® steel is particularly suited to the industry's growing preference towards laser cutting.

The investment has also allowed BlueScope to significantly enhance its market offer for coil plate. Once the new processing line is operational, customers will be able to order TRU-SPEC® steel in smaller quantities on short lead times providing exceptional value to their business.