The Russian pipe producer TMK Group (TMK) has announced that its subsidiary Seversky Tube Works (STZ) has started the construction of a new vacuum degasser at its electro-smelting shop.
Accordingly, the new vacuum degasser will allow STZ to reduce the presence of hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and non-metallic inclusions in liquid steel, thereby improving the quality of its cast round billets.
The equipment for STZ's new vacuum degasser will be delivered by the Switzerland-based equipment manufacturer Sytco, while the commissioning of the unit is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2009.