The Russian pipe producer TMK Group (TMK) has announced the commissioning of a new electric arc furnace (EAF) at its subsidiary Seversky Tube Works (STZ).
The new EAF, supplied by German plantmaker SMS Demag, is capable of producing up to one million mt of liquid steel or 950,000 mt of high quality billets, and will allow STZ to increase its capacity by 25 percent, to expand smelting operations, including high alloy and anti-corrosion smelting production, and to reduce the environmental impact of steelmaking operations by decreasing atmospheric emissions and reducing production waste by 70 percent.
The furnace is scheduled to achieve the designed capacity in the second quarter of 2009.
The commissioning of the EAF complements the earlier launched ladle furnace and continuous casting machine and is the final step in the creation of a modern steel-producing complex at STZ. Moreover, it marks the completion of TMK's strategic investment program started in 2005 and directed towards increased efficiency of production processes through the modernization and expansion of steelmaking operations and pipe-making facilities.
Commenting on the completion of the program, TMK's CEO Alexander Shiryaev stated: "The upgrading of production assets coupled with the installation of leading edge equipment have given TMK self-sufficiency in billet production for its seamless operations. Through the consolidation of its North American assets, TMK now has the world's largest pipe production capacity; with total capacity exceeding six million mt per year, including 2.2 million mt of OCTG threading, two million mt of heat treating and 1.2 million mt of coating capacities. Over the short-to-medium term, with no major investments ahead, we will focus on strengthening TMK's market positions in its core geographies; Russia, the CIS and North America."