Novolipetsk Improves Efficiency of Transportation Infrastructure Management System
12/04/2014 - NLMK Group has completed the first stage of its program to automate and transition its railway transport management and control system at the Lipetsk production site to modern highly reliable digital technologies.
The goal of the program is to increase the reliability and efficiency of logistic processes, including the speed of load handling; and the security of transporting raw materials and products in the context of increased output and delivery volumes.
Investment into automating NLMK’s railway transport management system totaled approximately RUB 350 million. On the whole, over the last five years NLMK invested approximately RUB 4 billion into maintaining and developing its transport system, including the construction of a logistic infrastructure for its next generation Blast Furnace #7 (launched in 2011).
Sergey Likharev, NLMK Group’s vice president for logistics, said: “By implementing the high-efficiency digital systems for managing and controlling our railway transport, we are resolving the task of improving the productivity of all logistic processes and working towards accomplishing the Group’s goals set out in our Strategy 2017. In the last three years alone, the volume of railway deliveries from the Lipetsk site has increased by 17%. This process automation allows us to adapt existing infrastructure to growing production volumes, along with other benefits.”
The Novolipetsk railway system includes over 485 km of railways; 18 stations; 123 locomotives; and 1875 wagons. The plant annually receives 31.5 million metric tons of raw and other materials delivered by railway; and dispatches 14 million metric tons of finished products to its clients.
As part of the automation program railway switch and signal controls at several stations will be organized from a single work place, cutting costs and increasing organizational efficiency.
Railway stations are being equipped with the newest systems for microprocess centralization of railway switches and signals in order to increase throughput capacity and improve safety. Five of NLMK’s 18 stations are already equipped with such systems.
Four stations are equipped with automated systems for the commercial examination of rolling stock which increases the efficiency of cargo-turnover. The new equipment allows handling service workers to check the safety of goods and wagons without setting foot on the rails.
In 2015, during Stage 2 of the program, NLMK will continue its initiatives to organize the control of several stations from one work place. Construction will begin on the Tsentralniy servicing terminal, for the repair and maintenance of locomotives.
Investment into automating NLMK’s railway transport management system totaled approximately RUB 350 million. On the whole, over the last five years NLMK invested approximately RUB 4 billion into maintaining and developing its transport system, including the construction of a logistic infrastructure for its next generation Blast Furnace #7 (launched in 2011).
Sergey Likharev, NLMK Group’s vice president for logistics, said: “By implementing the high-efficiency digital systems for managing and controlling our railway transport, we are resolving the task of improving the productivity of all logistic processes and working towards accomplishing the Group’s goals set out in our Strategy 2017. In the last three years alone, the volume of railway deliveries from the Lipetsk site has increased by 17%. This process automation allows us to adapt existing infrastructure to growing production volumes, along with other benefits.”
The Novolipetsk railway system includes over 485 km of railways; 18 stations; 123 locomotives; and 1875 wagons. The plant annually receives 31.5 million metric tons of raw and other materials delivered by railway; and dispatches 14 million metric tons of finished products to its clients.
As part of the automation program railway switch and signal controls at several stations will be organized from a single work place, cutting costs and increasing organizational efficiency.
Railway stations are being equipped with the newest systems for microprocess centralization of railway switches and signals in order to increase throughput capacity and improve safety. Five of NLMK’s 18 stations are already equipped with such systems.
Four stations are equipped with automated systems for the commercial examination of rolling stock which increases the efficiency of cargo-turnover. The new equipment allows handling service workers to check the safety of goods and wagons without setting foot on the rails.
In 2015, during Stage 2 of the program, NLMK will continue its initiatives to organize the control of several stations from one work place. Construction will begin on the Tsentralniy servicing terminal, for the repair and maintenance of locomotives.
