SAN SIMON -- A game changer in Asia's steel manufacturing industry is set to debut in a smelting plant based in this town.

Real Steel Corporation (RSC) has contracted Italian company Danieli to construct the first-ever fully automated and environmental-friendly, high-speed rolling mill in Asia.

RSC and Danieli Group executives signed the contract over the weekend to officially kick-start the development of the high-technology machinery which is expected to be finished and operational before 2022.

Danieli Morgardshammar vice president Federico Rochetti said the company will be constructing a complete production system, from steel billets to caster up to the rolling mill.

He said the high-technology rolling mill can produce up to 50 meters of rebars per second, which is considered the fastest in Asia.

Aside from increasing the steel plant's efficiency, Rochetti also cited the innovative solutions the facility brings to reduce pollution.

He said the rolling mill features an induction heater that will be reliant on electricity alone, and eliminate the use of natural gas.

"There is no reheating furnace for the billet. It will only be an induction heater that will only use electric energy so there is no emission. Then green steel is made," he said.

Meanwhile, RSC chief finance officer William Cheng said the company's decision to procure an innovative facility is part of its goal of improving the quality of steel bars available in the Philippine market.

He said of the features of the new rolling mill, it can equalize the weight of the steel bars, a problem that most steel mills in the country usually encounter.

"The new facility will finally address our problem in equalizing the weight of the steel bars. This will improve the quality of our products and we are positive that we can build more earthquake-proof buildings with these steel bars," Cheng said.

Mayor Abundio Punsalan Jr., for his part, said that RSC will serve as the model factory for using clean and innovative technology.

Punsalan said he will require five other smelting plants in this town to emulate the initiative of RSC in making quality and environmental-friendly products.

"San Simon, which produces almost 60 percent of rebars sold in the country, must lead the vision of improving the quality of steel bars in the local market and we are proud that Real Steel took the first step and set the standard in this regard," he said.