The Russian pipe producing company United Metallurgical Company (OMK) has announced the completion of the reconstruction of its electro-welded large diameter pipe producing complex.
The project, worth $500 million, was implemented in two phases. The first phase of the project, which started in 2003, saw the construction of Russia's first production line for electro-welded pipes of 1,420 mm diameter. During the second phase of the project, which was worth Ruble 5 billion ($213 million), the production lines for electro-welded pipes of 1,420 mm and 1,020 mm diameters were modernized. Also in the second phase, two new lines for internal pre-paint anti-corrosive coating were constructed, while a line for external coating was modernized.
The main equipment suppliers for OMK's modernization program were SMS Meer, Selmers Technology, Bauhuis International, Kolomesnkiy Heavy Machine Building Plant, CNII Burevesnik, Vimatek, Energokaskad and others.
As a result of the modernization, OMK has increased its complex's annual pipe production capacity to two million mt from 1.6 million mt; meanwhile, its annual external anti-corrosive coating capacity has risen to two million mt from one million mt and its internal anti-corrosive coating capacity has climbed to 800,000 mt from 400,000 mt.