Increasing Productivity of Casting and Rolling Complex

The achievement of project production indicators and prospects for further expansion of products in the casting and rolling complex (CRC) of Vyksa Metallurgical Plant contributed to the beginning of works to increase the productivity of equipment under conditions of existing production. Based on the analysis of the technical and technological capabilities of production units and aspects of the production process, several measures were developed to improve the technology and equipment.

The modernization of equipment in electric arc steelmaking furnaces increased its productivity by 17%. To synchronize the cycles of the production processes of remaining complex units, the productivity of the thin-slab continuous casting machine (CCM) of billets needed to be increased by increasing the mass casting speed, taking into account the technical capabilities of the rolling equipment. Initially, the CCM roller wiring of radial segments and bend section were upgraded to reduce the negative impact of inter-roller buckling. The project implementation to increase slab thickness entailed an increase in the metallurgical length of the CCM by installing an additional segment of roller wiring. A new technology for the continuous casting of steel and production of rolled products from slabs of increased thickness within the technical capabilities of the CCM and hot strip rolling mill has been developed.

The implemented measures increased the efficiency of existing equipment, increase the productivity of CRCs by more than 20%, and contributed to an increase in the quality indicators of finished products.