Major Russian steel producer NLMK Group has reported that economic gains generated by implementing innovative solutions at its main Novolipetsk production site in Lipetsk reached RUB 543 million ($9.773 million) during 2014, three times higher than the 2013 total.
This threefold increase in economic gains was driven by the implementation of several successful high-yield solutions. For instance, innovators suggested a change in the fuel regime of the recovery co-generation plant boilers which resulted in the share of blast furnace gas in heat energy generation increasing from the projected rate of 60 percent to 85 percent.
Accordingly, natural gas purchases decreased fivefold to 4000-5000 m³/h, making a saving of RUB 305.5 million ($5.493 million) per year.
More than 2,400 innovative solutions were implemented in 2014. The most efficient were aimed at improving equipment operations and technological processes; optimizing the use of material and energy resources; and improving product quality.