The Russian pipe producer TMK has announced the commissioning of a new premium quality finishing (PQF) seamless tube rolling mill at its subsidiary Tagmet.
The new mill has an annual production capacity of 600,000 mt of high-performance 73 mm to 273 mm outside diameter seamless tube with up to 25 mm wall thickness. The mill was designed and supplied by German plantmaker SMS Meer.
The mill will not only allow Tagmet to expand its share of premium class products, but the technology employed at the mill will improve production yields by six to 17 percent. The mill is scheduled to reach full production capacity in the first quarter of 2009.
The first batch of the new pipes has already been shipped to Surgutneftegas. The production of the new mill is intended for both Russian and international markets, primarily North America, the EU, the Middle East and North Africa. Furthermore, the shipments of the PQF tubes to the TMK IPSCO finishing facility will provide the North American market with premium class products.
In addition to the new mill, TMK has also installed a new heat treatment capacity at the plant in question, further enhancing the mechanical characteristics of its pipes. The Italian metallurgical equipment producer Olivotto Ferre supplied the new line, which has an annual heat treatment capacity of 200,000 mt.