Fives and John Cockerill Secure JSW Steel Contract for Electrical Steel Project at Vijayanagar

Fives Group has secured a landmark contract with JSW Steel for a major electrical steel project at the company’s Vijayanagar Works in Karnataka. The contract, awarded in consortium with John Cockerill, marks a significant milestone in India’s growing electrical steel manufacturing sector and highlights the increasing demand for advanced steel products required for electric vehicles and industrial applications.

The project will be developed at JSW Steel’s integrated steel facility in Toranagallu, one of the largest steel manufacturing complexes in the country. Under the agreement, three dedicated processing lines will be established for the production of non grain oriented electrical steel grades, which are widely used in electric vehicles, industrial motors and energy efficient equipment.

The planned facilities will include one Annealing and Pickling Line with an annual production capacity of 600,000 metric tonnes and two Annealing and Coating Lines, each capable of producing 270,000 metric tonnes per year. These facilities are expected to strengthen India’s domestic manufacturing ecosystem while reducing dependence on imports for specialised electrical steel products.

As part of the consortium, Fives Group will design and supply advanced annealing furnace technologies for all three processing lines. The company’s thermal processing expertise is expected to help achieve the precise temperature control and metallurgical properties required for high performance electrical steel production.

According to the company, the project aligns with India’s broader industrial growth strategy, which aims to significantly expand domestic steel production and support emerging sectors such as electric mobility, renewable energy and advanced manufacturing.

Benjamin Michel, President of the Steel and Glass Business Unit at Fives, said the contract reflects the company’s expertise in annealing technologies and its commitment to supporting JSW Steel’s long term growth plans. He added that the project will contribute to the development of India’s advanced steel manufacturing capabilities.

The investment also reinforces JSW Steel’s strategy to diversify into value added steel products while supporting the rapidly growing electric vehicle and industrial motor sectors. Industry observers believe the project will further strengthen India’s position as a global manufacturing hub for advanced steel products and clean technology applications.