Russian steel producer Severstal has announced that a total of over RUB 200 million ($6.4 million) is being invested in a large-scale project to upgrade equipment at the plate rolling facility No. 3 of Cherepovets Steel Mill, which is part of Severstal Russian Steel Division.
The project involves the upgrade of two units, namely, a Sever-6 type ultrasonic testing (UST) unit and a controlled cooling unit (CCU) for mill 5000. The new equipment will improve the quality of heavy plates intended for pipe production at Severstal's Izhora Pipe Mill in Kolpino near Saint Petersburg. The production will be supplied to South Stream and Power of Siberia, two major Russian oil and gas projects.
The upgrade of the UST unit for mill 5000 is aimed at improving heavy plate quality control. Equipment has been supplied by Ultracraft LLC and the equipment installation team included experienced personnel from the Kolpino-based branch of Severstal Promservis LLC, an asset of Severstal Russian Steel Division. The installation work was completed within the springtime repair program.
It is planned that the CCU upgrade will continue throughout 2013 as part of routine preventive maintenance and autumn overhaul repairs.