Salzgitter AG has a crude steel production capacity of more than 8 million tons. Its subsidiary Salzgitter Flachstahl GmbH produces hot strip, thin sheets and surface finished products as well as input stock for heavy plates and sectional steel. In February 2003, Salzgitter Flachstahl GmbH awarded a contract to SMS Demag AG for the supply of a single-strand slab caster including the building portion and all ancillary equipment under SMS leadership. A range of as many as 400 steel grades is cast on the two already existing bow-type continuous casters. The new caster has enhanced the grade range by adding in particular phosphor-alloyed and high-tensile steel grades, including HIC resistant as well as IF and C steel. This caster had to be designed in such a way as to be suitable for taking over production of one of the two existing casters in the longer term. Other goals of constructing a new, third slab caster were to increase the annual production rate of all three casters to a total of 4.7 million tons, to cut production costs, to improve the product quality and to safeguard slab production during the standstill and scheduled maintenance of one of the existing casters.