Lianyuan Steel (Liansteel) has achieved a major breakthrough in advanced materials. On April 1, its 1580mm hot-rolling line successfully produced a TA1 titanium coil just 2.5mm thick and 1,266mm wide. This width is among the best in China for titanium coils of the same thickness. The success places Liansteel in the top tier of domestic titanium rolling technology.
Titanium is often called “space metal” or “marine metal.” It is essential for aerospace, deep-sea engineering, and high-end medical devices. However, producing thin titanium coils on a large scale has long been a challenge for China’s steel industry. Titanium deforms easily under stress and requires extremely precise temperature and shape control during rolling. A thickness of only 2.5mm combined with a width of 1,266mm pushes equipment accuracy, process control, and operator skill to their limits.
What makes this achievement even more impressive? Liansteel’s 1580mm line uses a steel-titanium co-linear hot rolling process. This means the same production line must handle both steel and titanium — two materials with very different rolling behaviors. Few in the industry have succeeded at this.
To tackle the challenge, Liansteel formed a dedicated team. Before rolling began, they held special planning meetings. Technical experts, equipment engineers, and key operators worked together. They reviewed process parameters, equipment readiness, quality control, and risk plans.
On the rolling day, the team stayed on the front line. Technicians monitored every pass and made real-time adjustments. Equipment crews completed thorough inspections to prevent failures. Production teams assigned their best people to the task.
The result was a one-time success. The TA1 titanium coil met all high-end standards for dimensional accuracy, surface quality, and mechanical properties.
This breakthrough removes a long-standing technical barrier in China for producing thin, wide titanium strips. It also strongly supports Loudi’s “Material Valley” and the “Three Steels, Three Electrics, One Titanium” industrial cluster. Going forward, Liansteel will accelerate stable, large-scale production of this specification. The company will continue to improve its titanium rolling process and build a national-leading production base — contributing to the rise of China’s high-end new materials industry.
