Mittelstandspresse
13.08.2026
SMS group supplies Hybar with a second CMT® mill for the world’s first twin CMT® 550 solution in Osceola, United States
Mönchengladbach, 13.08.2026 (PresseBox) -
This greenfield order for a new CMT ® 550 mill will expand Hybar’s bar production by 630,000 tons per year
The new CMT® 550 mill enables twin CMT® mill operation by leveraging the existing infrastructure of the SMS CMT® 550 mill already in operation
The integrated SMS technology package enables high productivity and low operating costs and boasts one of the industry’s lowest carbon footprints
Hybar LLC, a scrap metal recycling and steel production company focused on environmentally sustainable steel production, has again selected SMS group to supply a second continuous minimill technology order (CMT® 550) for its steelmaking complex in Osceola, Arkansas (U.S.). Installed alongside the existing SMS CMT® 550 mill, the new facility will create the world’s first twin CMT® system and increase Hybar’s annual reinforcing bar production capacity by 630,000 short tons. Groundbreaking for the project is expected to take place in late 2026 with start-up scheduled twenty-four months later.
By integrating an additional CMT® 550 mill at the Osceola site in Arkansas, the twin CMT® mill solution enables optimal use of transport logistics and a shared connection to the same renewable power source. Utilizing the site’s 105-megawatt solar park, supported by a 160-megawatt-hours battery storage system, mill operation is designed to achieve one of the lowest carbon footprints in the long-product sector. Compared to a conventional minimill, carbon emissions are expected to be reduced by up to 35 percent.
The new CMT® 550 mill is engineered to create an energy-efficient steelmaking system by integrating steelmaking, casting, and rolling into a single, exceptionally reliable process. SMS will supply the complete CMT® mill from a single source. The new mill expands Hybar’s reinforcing bar production by an additional 630,000 short tons per year, producing bars from 12.4 to 35 millimeters in one to four-ton bundles. The plant will also include future provision for VCC® (Vertical Compact Coiler) technology for coils up to eight tons.
The meltshop features an electric arc furnace based on the proven EDGE DC design platform and a twin ladle furnace station, providing high electrical efficiency, operational flexibility, and consistent steel quality. The X-Pact AURA, an advanced electronics system, provides the electrical power feed to the melting unit, enabling high productivity (>80 tons per hour) with low energy consumption and minimal impact on the electrical grid. The modular architecture (six equivalent AURA packages installed) allows Hybar to run the plant at unprecedent level of availability. A comprehensive digital package ensures plant-wide acquisition of real-time and production data, feeding the DataXpert platform to provide advanced logic and develop machine learning models for equipment monitoring and smart operation.
A hallmark of the CMT® concept is the seamless integration of casting and rolling into one continuous production process. A high-speed single-strand endless caster with CONREX mold tube technology connects the meltshop to the rolling mill via an induction equalization furnace, reducing dependence on fossil-fuel reheating furnaces.
The rolling mill is equipped with fourteen housing-less stands and a six-pass MEERdrive® high-speed finishing block. Thanks to its flexible gear ratio selection, MEERdrive® technology reduces roll ring inventory by 60 percent compared to conventional finishing blocks. Directly after rolling, a TBK MEERgauge autonomous laser measurement system provides dimensional verification, process optimization, and improved tolerance utilization. The integrated HSD® (High Speed Delivery) system enhances material yield and bundle shape by comparison with multistrand bar rolling using a short cooling bed.
Building on the operational success of Hybar’s first CMT® 550 mill, SMS has established a dedicated lifecycle partnership model combining on-site expertise with comprehensive support. A dedicated SMS expert is embedded at the Osceola site to coordinate tailored solutions. With early engagement starting 14 months before commissioning, SMS has forecasted consumables demand, optimized spares inventories, and customized rolling guide solutions. The same proven approach is now being extended to support the twin CMT® system and strengthen equipment reliability.
“Building on the success of our first CMT® mill at Hybar’s Osceola site to produce long products, we see huge potential to expand our capacities here at Osceola by combining logistics and labor expertise already on-site with this CMT® twin solution. This enables us to effectively respond to the increasing demand for green long products by taking advantage of shared utility costs,” says David Stickler, CEO Hybar.
As a single-source supplier, SMS combines process technology, plant engineering, automation and digital solutions into one integrated platform. Leveraging the experience gained from Hybar’s first CMT® 550 mill in Osceola, SMS will support project execution and commissioning to reduce startup risk and accelerate the transition to profitable production.
Ansprechpartner
Thilo Sagermann
+49 2161 350-4449
Zuständigkeitsbereich: Fachpresse
Über SMS group GmbH:
SMS group is renowned worldwide for its future-oriented technologies and outstanding service for the metals industry. The company applies its 150 years of experience and its digital know-how to provide the industry continuously with innovative products and processes – even beyond its core business – and generates worldwide sales of around 3.6 billion euros. SMS is the right partner for challenging projects and supports its customers throughout the lifecycle of their plants, enabling profitable and resource-efficient value creation chains. Paving the way for a carbon-neutral and sustainable metals industry is the company’s stated goal. As a global player with German roots, SMS takes responsibility for more than 13,000 employees.
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From left to right: Luca Spaziani (SMS group), Chandler Ault (Hybar LLC), Filippo Verlezza (SMS group), John Moore (Hybar LLC), Shaun Nagy (Hybar LLC), Andrea Gallina (SMS group), Brett Doolittle (Hybar LLC), Mario Fabro (SMS group), Carlo Cascino (SMS group) In front from left to right: Sam Fowler (Hybar LLC), Dave Rigby (SMS group)
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Hybar’s first Continuous Minimill Technology (CMT® 550) in Osceola, Arkansas, supplied by SMS group, connected to the company’s own solar park
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