Steel News

ArcelorMittal Kryviy Rih to Start Construction on First CCM

07 April 2010 - OJSC ArcelorMittal Kryviy Rih plans to begin construction of secondary metallurgy and continuous billet casting technology in April. The continuous casting machine (CCM) is a key part of the company’s modernization program and one of its investment obligations according to the sale and purchase agreement.

Mechel Establishes Mecheltrans Management OOO

07 April 2010 - Mecheltrans Management OOO started operation on April 1, 2010. Mechel OAO established the company to increase management efficiency of Mechel group’s logistic assets, including preparation of solutions for goods transportation; control over shipment schedules; and capital development.

SKF Restructures Capacity at Gothenburg

06 April 2010 - SKF recently implemented a program to adjust manufacturing capacity in Gothenburg, Sweden, including early retirement, voluntary compensation, organizational reallocation, and investments in skills and development. The restructuring affects around 150 people.

voestalpine Restructures Bohler Uddeholm

06 April 2010 - The Supervisory Board of parent company voestalpine AG in September 2009 decided to restructure the organization of the Special Steel Division (Böhler Uddeholm Group). The organizational changes took effect April 1.

Kobe Steel to Pursue ITmk3 Project in Vietnam

06 April 2010 - Kobe Steel, Ltd. received an investment license on March 31 from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to construct ITmk3® ironmaking plants. The company plans to establish a locally incorporated company, Kobelco Iron Nugget Vietnam LLC, in April 2010, through which the project can be carried out.

Evraz Launches Rail Mill Reconstruction at NKMK

05 April 2010 - Evraz Group S.A. has begun the rail mill reconstruction at NKMK, its Russian steel plant in Novokuznetsk, Siberia. Once reconstruction has been completed, which is anticipated in 2012, NKMK will be able to produce 25- and 100-meter high-speed rails.

Kobe Steel Receives Plant Order from Bahrain Steel Company

05 April 2010 - Kobe Steel, Ltd. has been awarded a contract to supply a MIDREX® Direct Reduction Plant with an annual capacity of 1.5 million tonnes to Bahrain's United Steel Co. Under the full turnkey project, Kobe Steel is responsible for the design, equipment supply, construction, and start-up of the facility, which will make direct reduced iron.

Corus Markets New HyPerform Steel Grade

05 April 2010 - Corus claims to be first to market with a new grade of steel—dual phase (DP) 800HyPerform—designed specifically for the automotive industry. The steel grade’s minimum ultimate tensile strength is 780 MPa, and it offers extra ductility for good formability and weldability.

OMZ-Special Steels Manufactures Support Roll Billet from New Steel Grade

05 April 2010 - OMZ-Special Steels has manufactured a unique support roll billet from a 360-tonne ingot for Hyundai Steel (South Korea). The billet is more than 10 meters in length and 2 meters in diameter; the new steel grade features increased chrome concentration.

Construction Begins for Second Posco-CTPC Plant

02 April 2010 - Posco held a groundbreaking ceremony for a second Posco-CTPC plant within the Tianjin Economic-Technologic Development Area on March 30. The automobile sheets facility will have an annual capacity of 120,000 tonnes.

worldsteel Comments on Iron Ore Contracts

02 April 2010 - The steel industry, through worldsteel, expresses renewed concern at the inevitable consequences of imposed pricing settlements and possible abuse of dominant positions by the main iron ore suppliers.

EU Hands out Excess Carbon Allowances in 2009

02 April 2010 - The recession led to emissions from industrial plants included in the EU's emissions trading system to drop by 11% in 2009, according to energy information provider ICIS Heren. The EU handed out more free carbon allowances than were actually needed for plants to comply with 2009 emissions.

Eurofer Notifies EC on Possible Anticompetitive Practices Related to Seaborne Iron Ore Market

01 April 2010 - Eurofer has formally notified the European Commission (EC) about possible anticompetitive practices and abuse of dominant position by the main iron ore suppliers.

ArcelorMittal Confirmed as Sponsor for London 2012 Olympic, Paralympic Games

01 April 2010 - ArcelorMittal celebrates its new status as a tier two sponsor of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games by announcing the artist and design for ArcelorMittal Orbit, a spectacular new visitor attraction in London’s Olympic Park.

Ruukki Signs Contracts for Two Landmark Projects in Norway

01 April 2010 - Ruukki has been chosen as the steel structure contractor for the new head office of financial services group DnB NOR in Oslo and for construction projects for a new concert hall in Stavanger.

SAIL to Form Shipping JV Company with SCI

31 March 2010 - Steel Authority of India Ltd. (SAIL) has signed an agreement for formation of a 50:50 joint venture company with Shipping Corp. of India Ltd. (SCI). The JV will initially cater to around 1 million tonnes of SAIL's imported cargo annually.

Court Convicts Rio Tinto Shanghai Employees

31 March 2010 - The Shanghai Number One Intermediate People's Court has convicted the four Shanghai employees detained on July 5, 2009, on charges of receiving bribes and obtaining commercial secrets. Rio Tinto will terminate their employment.

OJSC ArcelorMittal Kryviy Rih Complies with International Quality Standard

31 March 2010 - An audit recently took place at ArcelorMittal Kryviy Rih that confirmed compliance to the international standard BS EN ISO 9001:2008. Auditors also executed a sample collection of reinforcing bar and took part in tests of 460B\B500B and B500C grades to the requirements of British standards BS 4449 versions 1997 and 2005.

LKAB Works toward Start-up of Three New Iron Ore Mines

31 March 2010 - LKAB plans to open an open-pit mine at Gruvberget during the first half of 2010, and also is planning to submit applications for a project to drain the Leveäniemi open pit and for test drilling for the Mertainen deposit in the Svappavaara area.

Praxair India Strengthens Association with SAIL

31 March 2010 - Praxair India has won a contract to supply gases to the Bhilai facility of Steel Authority of India Ltd. Praxair India will build, own, and operate two cryogenic air separation units, each with a capacity of 1250 tonnes per day.