Vyksa Steel Works (Vyksa), a subsidiary of the Russian pipe producer United Metallurgical Company (OMK), has announced that in 2009 it will continue to finance its research and development (R&D) program, directed towards the increase of quality and competitiveness of its pipe products and railroad wheels, the expand of its products range, and the decrease of metal consumption. The total investments in R&D program will amount to Ruble 24 million (approx. $666,000).
The main directions of Vyksa's R&D program in 2009, will be the mastering of new types of pipes (pipes with an increased strength, pipes for undersea pipelines, hydrogen sulfide-resistant pipes, pipes with new anticorrosive coatings, casings pipes with the new types of threads), the expansion of profile pipes range, the increasing of pipes quality, and the developing of the seamless pipes production technology.
Furthermore, R&D program will be also directed towards the optimization of steel and railroad wheels production technology, the stabilization of the mechanical properties of wheels, the designing of wheels for passenger and high-speed trains and other new types of wheels for promising markets.