Russian steel mill Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works (MMK) has announced the recommissioning of the hot rolling mill 2500 at its flat rolling shop No. 4. The decision was hastened by the need to increase production output in response to rising demand.
According to MMK's production program, in February its hot rolling mill 2500 is to produce about 220,000 metric tons of hot rolled coils, i.e. only 33-43 percent less compared to the pre-crisis period. Currently, five of the six reheating furnaces at the mill are in operation. However, by the end of the current month MMK plans to restart operations also at the mill's sixth reheating furnace, which is being repaired at present, in order to increase production further.
MMK's hot rolling mill 2500, which in 2007 produced about 3 million metric tons of HRC, was decommissioned and switched to standby mode at the end of October 2008 in the context of falling demand.
As SteelOrbis previously reported, in 2007 MMK started the reconstruction of its hot rolling mill 2500, scheduled to be completed by 2010, aimed at allowing MMK to increase the production capacity of the mill to 5 million mt per year, and to produce coils and sheets for pressure vessel construction, shipbuilding and bridge building industries. Moreover, the range of sizes and steel grades produced at this mill will broaden, and the production of quality input material in coils will be ensured for further production of cold rolled strip and coated strip.