Izhora Pipe Plant (IPP), a producer of large diameter pipes using strips supplied by the Cherepovets Steel Mill, both business units within the Russian Steel Division of Severstal, one of the world's leading steel and steel-related mining companies, has announced that it has commissioned a new finishing press. The new press will focus on manufacturing small diameter heavyweight pipes to be supplied for the offshore section of the South Stream pipeline project of Russian state gas monopoly Gazprom.
The equipment for the new press has been supplied by German company SMS Meer, and forms part of a wider project to develop Severstal's range of pipes, in which the company will invest approximately RUB 1.3 billion ($42 million) and which will include the commissioning of a second expander this spring.