NLMK Lipetsk, the group’s flagship production site, has begun construction and installation works on the complete overhaul of Continuous Casting Machine (CCM) No. 9, which is a milestone project in NLMK Group’s Strategy 2022.
The launch of the new CCM No. 9 will conclude the blast furnace and steelmaking operations development program, aimed at boosting the output of NLMK Lipetsk by 1 million tons of steel.
CCM No. 9 will also enable NLMK Lipetsk to begin production of unique “heavy” slabs of up to 400 mm in thickness and 2800 mm in width, which feature high chemical purity and structural homogeneity. Slabs with these special parameters are made for processing into plates for use in the production of large-diameter pipes, wind power facilities, oil-drilling platforms, and in the shipbuilding sector.
Investment in the project will total 12 billion rubles. The new production unit will take the place of the old CCM, which has already been dismantled. The productivity of the unit will be increased by 80%, reaching 1.8 million tons of steel per year. Completion of construction and the operational launch of the CCM is planned for December.
Konstantin Lagutin, NLMK Group Vice President, Investment Projects, said: “The overhaul of CCM No. 9 will enable the company to strengthen its competitive edge on the global steel market by expanding the product mix and delivering a premium-quality product. Moreover, the project represents efficient growth for NLMK Lipetsk, making the most of the site’s potential.” (NLMK/Ukrainian metal)