SMS Siemag to Supply VOD Facility for Ellwood National Steel
12/23/2011 - Ellwood National Steel has placed an order with SMS Siemag LLC to supply a Vacuum Oxygen Decarburizing facility. The new unit will be the first in the USA to operate with a mechanical vacuum pump rather than a steam ejector system and boiler.
Ellwood National Steel (part of the Ellwood Group, Inc.) in Irvine, Pa., has placed an order with SMS Siemag LLC to supply a VOD facility (Vacuum Oxygen Decarburizing).
The company is undertaking the project to enable the production of low-carbon stainless steel forgings with a demanding combination of strength, toughness and corrosion resistance.
The new VOD will be equipped with a mechanical vacuum pump rather than a steam ejector system and boiler, making it the first VOD unit in the USA with mechanical vacuum pumps. The system will include gas cooler and bag filter system to reduce the environmental impact.
SMS Siemag’s scope of supply comprises the mechanical process equipment, complete with an alloy addition system as well as the entire electrical and automation systems including the latest level-1 and level-2 control technologies.
SMS Mevac, Germany, will provide process know-how, training and basic engineering based on a license agreement with a leading German stainless steel producer. SMS Mevac will be closely involved in the entire project execution.
Start of production is planned for December 2012.
SMS Siemag LLC is a company of the SMS group which, under SMS Holding GmbH, comprises a group of companies internationally active in plant construction and mechanical engineering for the steel and nonferrous metals industry. With some 10,600 employees, the group generates sales of over EUR 3 billion.
