Ural Steel, the steel producing subsidiary of the Russian iron ore and steel producer Metalloinvest Holding (Metalloinvest), has restarted production operations at its reconstructed rolling mill 2800 and at its one million mt capacity EAF, following the completion of the new phase of technological modernization of its steelmaking and rolling facilities.
The recommissioning of the upgraded rolling mill 2800 enables Ural Steel to significantly increase its range of steel products, including the production of rolled products of length greater than 36 m, and thereby ensuring it meets the requirements of customers.
The upgraded rolling mill has already produced its first batch of commercial steel products with improved consumer characteristics, for which there has been strong demand from pipe producers, and from bridge and building constructors. The first production consignments from the reconstructed plate rolling mill No. 1 have been delivered to Kurganstalmost, Ulan-UdeStalmost, Tyumenstalmost, Chelyabinsk Steel Works, Omsk-based Mostovik, Chelyabinsk Tube Rolling Plant and Vyksa Steel Works.
"Despite the difficult economic situation Metalloinvest continues to put new production facilities into operation, thus making further steps to increase the quality of its steel products delivered to traditional and new customers," Metalloinvest general director Maxim Gubiev stated.
Furthermore, by reaching the designed capacities of its two EAFs, Ural Steel's EAF shop will be able to produce up to 2.0-2.2 million mt of steel products per year, increasing the output of high value added products by 2.2-3 times. In addition, Ural Steel plans to put into operation two new automatic stands at the plate rolling mill No. 1, which will allow the exclusion of thermal treatment for a part of steel production, as well as the increase of the share of controlled rolling, thus contributing to reduced production costs, which is particularly important taking into account the changes in the economic situation.