The Russian iron ore and steel producing company Metalloinvest Holding (Metalloinvest) has announced the commissioning of a new "twin-type" ladle furnace (LF) No. 3 at its subsidiary Oskol Metallurgical Plant (OEMK), supplied by the Italian plantmaker Danieli.
The completion of the construction of the new LF No. 3, which is in line with Metalloinvest's technical re-equipment and upgrading of its production facilities, is directed towards the increase of high quality steel output at OEMK and the strengthening of the company's position in the world steel market.
The new LF No. 3, with an annual capacity of 1.03 million mt of steel, will allow OEMK to produce quality steel grades, such as bearing steel grades and steel grades for car making industry, including sulfur alloyed steel, which is shipped to domestic and foreign consumers.
Moreover, the LF No. 3, together with the existing two ladle furnace units, will enable OEMK to process about three million mt of steel per year, i.e. 100 percent of the total steel smelted by the plant's EAFs. The new LF will work together with the circulation degassing plant No.3, which has an annual capacity of 750,000 mt.
In addition, within the framework of Metalloinvest's technical re-equipment program, OEMK is carrying out the construction of a new roll finishing line at its mill 350, which will allow the plant to produce an additional 300,000 mt of quality steel grade production with a higher value added.
The new ladle furnace worth €14.75 million is expected to be put into operation in June 2008.