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Siemens to Upgrade Caster Capacity at Nizhny Tagil
01/15/2010 - Nizhny Tagil Iron & Steel Works contracts Siemens VAI Metals Technologies to increase the casting capability of its existing two-strand beam-blank/bloom combi-caster, CCM3, by an additional 300,000 tonnes/year.
Nizhny Tagil Iron & Steel Works (NTMK), Russia, has placed an order with Siemens VAI Metals Technologies to increase the casting capability of its existing two-strand beam-blank/bloom combi-caster, CCM3.
Expansion of the combi-caster’s capacity is part of a modernization campaign currently underway at NTMK, in which Siemens VAI has already replaced three of the LD (BOF) converters and is now installing a fourth 160-tonne-capacity converter. To support the facility’s higher steel production rate, Siemens VAI will also expand the casting capacity of the CCM3 caster, originally supplied by Siemens VAI. CCM3 currently casts beam blanks in 395 mm (height) x 165 mm (web thickness) x 530 mm (width) formats, or blooms with a thickness of 200 mm and a width of 550 mm.
Siemens’ scope includes the supply of engineering, equipment and systems, installation work and all required modification activities to enable the caster to cast up to four bloom strands in total to meet the increased market demands for rail steel. In bloom-casting mode, annual machine capacity will be increased from 700,000 to 1,000,000 tonnes. The order value is just under €30 million.
Siemens VAI will modify the machine to make it capable of simultaneously casting up to four bloom strands with rectangular formats of 300x380 mm, allowing the facility to cast an additional 300,000 tonnes of steel per year. The caster will employ external mold stirring to ensure the homogeneous internal strand quality necessary for high-carbon rail-steel and tube-steel grades.
The caster design is characterized by curved molds, a 12-m bow radius and a metallurgical length of 33 m. The mechanical equipment supply includes new molds, additional segments and withdrawal units. New media, electrical and Level 1 and Level 2 automation systems will also be installed in addition to a variety of technological packages such as Dynaflex hydraulic oscillators, the Levcon mold-level-control system and an integrated quality-control system. Advisory services for start-up and commissioning round off the Siemens VAI scope of supply.
Although installation and modification work will be carried out to the greatest extent possible during regular casting operations, a caster-shutdown period of about 60 days will be necessary.
NTMK and Siemens VAI have jointly implemented a number of projects over the past 15 years, including the supply of high-tech equipment for the Blast Furnaces Nos. 5 und 6, modernization and expansion of the existing converter steelworks, the supply of ladle furnaces, and the installation of the 4-strand bloom (CCM 1) and single-strand slab (CCM 4) continuous casters.
Start-up of the modified CCM3 caster is scheduled for November 2010.
Nizhny Tagil Iron & Steel Works, part of the Evraz Group S.A., is one of the largest metals producers in Russia. Located in the city of Nizhny Tagil in the Ural Mountains in the Sverdlovsk region, the integrated iron and steel works produces approximately four million tons of steel per year which is primarily used for the production of rails, railway wheels, supports and structures.
The Siemens Industry Sector (Erlangen, Germany) is a leading international supplier of environmentally friendly production, transportation, building and lighting technologies. The Sector comprises six divisions: Building Technologies, Drive Technologies, Industry Automation, Industry Solutions, Mobility und Osram. With around 207,000 employees worldwide (September 30), Siemens Industry achieved in fiscal year 2009 total sales of approximately €35 billion.
The Siemens Industry Solutions Division (Erlangen, Germany) is one of the world's leading solution and service providers for industrial and infrastructure facilities comprising the business activities of Siemens VAI Metals Technologies, Water Technologies and Industrial Technologies. Activities include engineering and installation, operation and service for the entire life cycle. With around 31,000 employees worldwide (September 30), Siemens Industry Solutions posted sales of €6.8 billion in fiscal year 2009.
