CONTINUOUS CASTING HEADLINESProcess /
Continuous Casting
NLMK Further Expands Slab Casting Capacity at Novolipetsk
Jan. 11, 2012 NLMK has successfully cast the first slabs on its newly revamped one million tonne/year vertical continuous casting machine (CCM-3) at Novolipetsk, the company’s main production site in Lipetsk.
As part of the revamp, CCM-3 expanded its annual casting capacity by some 300,000 tonnes due to higher casting rates and longer periods between repairs. The revamp also allowed the company to expand its product mix capabilities, with new equipment allowing slab thickness of up to 315 mm. Steel quality also has been improved due to increased process automation.
The c.RUR3.6-billion project is part of the second stage of NLMK’s Technical Upgrade Program, which, alongside other activities, targets an increase in annual steel output at NLMK’s Lipetsk site from 9 to 12.4 million tonnes.
CCM-3 is the 6th production facility for continuous slab casting that the company has commissioned after revamping the Lipetsk site.
With more than 12.6 million tonnes of steelmaking capacity, NLMK is a leading international supplier of slabs and transformer steel; high value added products including pre-painted, galvanized electrical steel and a wide range of plates; and a variety of long steel products. The company operates state-of-the-art production facilities and its our business is highly diversified across a range of sales markets with product deliveries to more than 70 countries worldwide. NLMK enjoys one of the most competitive production costs among global steelmakers and has one of the highest five-year average EBITDA margins at around 40%.