TMK halts OHF operations and switches to electric smelting production

Russia’s largest oil and gas pipe producer TMK has announced that it is halting its open hearth furnace (OHF) operations at its open hearth shop, and is completely switching over to high technology electric smelting production. In November 2008, within the framework of the company’s strategic investment program, TMK started the hot testing of its new electric arc furnace (EAF) at its subsidiary Seversky Tube Works (STZ). The new EAF, supplied by German plantmaker SMS Demag, will allow STZ to increase its production capacity by 25 percent to one million mt of liquid steel per year, and to expand smelting operations, including high alloy and anti-corrosion smelting production. “The halt of open hearth furnace operations is the final step in the creation of a modern steel producing complex at STZ, which will give TMK self-sufficiency in billet production for its seamless operations,” TMK’s CEO Alexander Shiryaev stated. According to Mr. Shiryaev, the new equipment will allow an increase of the efficiency of steelmaking operations, and, as a result, a decrease in the production cost of products. In addition, it will enable TMK to reduce the environmental impact of steelmaking operations by decreasing atmospheric emissions and reducing production waste by 70 percent. Seversky Tube Works started to use open hearth furnaces in its steelmaking operations 80 years ago.