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Mechel Celebrates Launch of Quality Steel Producing Complex at Chelyabinsk

03/02/2012 - Mechel OAO recently celebrated its launch of the first line of Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant’s universal rolling mill.

Mechel OAO recently celebrated its launch of the first line of Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant’s universal rolling mill.
 
The new facility features a two-position ladle-furnace (#4) with an annual capacity of 1.2 million tonnes of steel, a two-chamber vacuum degasser with an annual capacity of 650,000 tonnes, and a continuous bloom caster (#5) with an annual capacity of 1 million tonnes, each of which were launched for hot testing in December 2011. The company noted that all of the complex’s facilities are equipped with modern environment-friendly technology, as well as a circuit water-supply cycle and dust-gas filtering systems.
 
The launch ceremony was attended by JSC Russian Railways’ President Vladimir Yakunin, Chelyabinsk Region’s Governor Mikhail Yurevich, and Russian Industry and Trade Ministry’s Basic Industries Department Director Viktor Semenov. Other guests included Chelyabinsk Region’s Chief Federal Inspector Artyom Pushkin, Chelyabinsk’s City Administration Chief Sergei Davydov, and JSC Russian Railways’ Vice-President for Infrastructure Vladimir Vorobyov. Head of South Urals Railway (JSC Russian Railways’ branch) Viktor Popov visited Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant as part of a working trip.
 
JSC Russian Railways President Vladimir Yakunin hailed the launch of the quality steel producing complex as a vivid event in the cooperation between Russian Railways and Mechel OAO. “This is a serious step forward toward expanding the partnership of the two companies, the drive to achieve new results not only in business, be it transport or steelmaking, but certainly for the development of the entire Russian economy,” stressed Yakunin.
 
Investment in the entire rail- and beam-producing complex will total some 853.9 million dollars.
 
“It is very important for us that the plant is becoming very modern,” noted Chelyabinsk Region’s Governor Mikhail Yurevich. “We are glad that great funds are being invested in Chelyabinsk Region’s development. I am absolutely sure that once the plant’s modernization is fully complete, the plant will be on a par with the world’s leading producers, and we will be getting more jobs and taxes, which is very important.
 
“The quality steel production complex was constructed as part of setting up a new technological production chain of long rails at Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant — from making steel to rolling and thermal treatment,” commented Mechel OAO’s Chairman of the Board of Directors Igor Zyuzin. “The complex’s units will enable the plant to produce high-quality billets for the universal rolling mill, which will have all the qualities required to produce 100-meter rails of high resistance to wear, contact endurance and reliability in low temperatures. These parameters are especially important considering the climatic specifics of rail use in most of Russia’s territory.”
 
As a part of the launch ceremony, the symbolic ribbon was cut by Mechel OAO Board of Directors Chairman Igor Zyuzin, JSC Russian Railways President Vladimir Yakunin and Chelyabinsk Region’s Governor Mikhail Yurevich, launching the new steelmaking complex that will be used to manufacture rails among other products.
 
The delegation also toured the site for the second line of the long rail production complex — the universal rolling mill itself — to see the progress of the construction, including the reheating furnace, and rolling mill line. The group also visited the rail treatment area, rollshop complex and rail-welding installation where 100-meter rails will be welded into 800-meter strings.
 
Mechel, one of Russia’s leading companies, conducts business in four segments: mining, steel, ferroalloy and power. Mechel unites producers of coal, iron ore concentrate, nickel, ferrochrome, ferrosilicon, steel, rolled products, hardware, heat and electric power, and its products are marketed domestically and internationally.