Siemens VAI Metals Technologies has received an order from ASCE Group OJSC to deliver a continuous billet casting plant for its Charentsavan location. Thus, the Armenian steel producer is the first company to operate a compact and cost-efficient continuous billet casting plant for carbon steels that complies with the new plant design presented by Siemens in 2011. The two-strand casting plant is designed for production of 200,000 tons of billets per year. Commissioning of the plant is planned for mid-2013.

ASCE Group OJSC is the market leader in scrap recycling in Armenia and operates an arc furnace-based compact steel plant in Charentsavan. At the end of 2011 the company had already ordered a bar rolling mill from Siemens, which is also to commence production in mid-2013.

The rolling mill receives its material from the new continuous billet casting plant. It features a machine radius of six meters and will produce 200,000 tons of billets annually with a square crosssection of 120x120 mm. Both quality steel and low and medium carbon steel can be cast. The scope of delivery also includes the basic automation (level 1) and also the operator control and monitoring system.

The continuous billet casting plant was conceived in accordance with the new plant design presented by Siemens in 2011. Each line has a casting capacity of 100,000 tons annually. The individual lines can be operated independently of one another. Thus, the plant’s capacity can always be utilized optimally depending on the available quantity of liquid steel.