Russian steel producer Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works (MMK) has stated that it produced 36,500 mt of polymer-coated steel at its two polymer coating plants in January this year - an all-time record for monthly output in MMK's history. The previous monthly record of over 36,200 mt was set in May 2014.
The second polymer coating plant also set a record, producing 17,700 mt in January, exceeding the previous record of 17,500 mt set in December last year.
MMK started producing colour-coated steel in 2004, when the first plant, designed by Voest-Alpine, was commissioned. The plant has an annual capacity of 200,000 mt, and covers cold rolled sheet or galvanized steel with layers of plastisol, polyvinylidene fluoride and polyester.
The second polymer coating plant, also with an annual capacity of 200,000 mt, was commissioned in 2009, thus doubling MMK's production capacity for colour-coated steel. The equipment was supplied by Italy-based FATA Hunter. The new plant includes hot and cold laminators and can produce steel with texturized polymer coatings. The new plant's blast furnace design makes it possible to produce steel for the white goods sector.