Tata Steel Ludhiana Becomes First Indian Producer to Get BIS License for Octagonal Billets

Tata Steel Ludhiana has become the first steel producer in India to receive a Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) license for manufacturing octagonal billets under IS 14650:2023, marking a significant development in the production of specialised steel products.

The certification recognises the manufacturing processes and quality systems established at Tata Steel’s Ludhiana facility for producing octagonal billets. These billets are used in the manufacture of Tata Tiscon TMT rebars and are intended for applications across construction, infrastructure and industrial sectors.

The certified billets can be used in residential and commercial buildings as well as major infrastructure projects, including roads, bridges, metro systems and airports. They also have applications in industrial and power-sector projects.

According to Tata Steel, the octagonal design offers manufacturing advantages compared with conventional square and rectangular billets. The larger surface area allows better heat transfer and more uniform cooling during processing. This can contribute to improved grain structure, strength, toughness and ductility in the finished rebars.

The billet geometry also supports more consistent material flow during rolling, helping improve the roundness and dimensional accuracy of the final products. Better deformation during the rolling process can result in improved product consistency.

Another advantage highlighted by Tata Steel is improved material utilisation. The octagonal profile can reduce corner losses and increase metal yield during production. More uniform rolling forces can also help reduce wear on rolling mill equipment.

The company said these improvements can contribute to better energy and material efficiency, supporting its efforts to develop a more sustainable steelmaking ecosystem.

Subodh Pandey, Vice President – Technology, R&D, NMB and Graphene at Tata Steel, said the BIS license validates the capabilities developed at the Ludhiana facility and reflects the company’s focus on technological development and differentiated steel products.

The certification comes as India’s construction and infrastructure sectors continue to require steel products that offer consistent quality, strength and dimensional performance. With octagonal billets feeding into TMT rebar production, the development could strengthen Tata Steel’s specialised product portfolio while supporting applications across India’s growing infrastructure landscape.