The Russian steel producer Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works (MMK) has announced that on July 24 in the presence of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin it officially commissioned its production facilities for plate production, which include its plate rolling mill 5000 and a second polymer coating line.
The new plate mill 5000, supplied by Austria-based plantmaker SMS Demag, has an annual capacity of 1.5 million mt and will produce plates of 4,850 mm in width and of X100-X120 strength characteristics for the oil and gas, shipbuilding, bridge building and machine building industries.
"I do not doubt that the production of this unique mill will be in demand. This confidence is based on the significance of the oil and energy industry for Russia's economy and the importance of the current projects for the construction of the new oil and gas pipelines," MMK CEO Viktor Rashnikov stated. As SteelOrbis previously reported, MMK has already signed preliminary supply contracts with major heavy machinery makers and pipe producers, including associated companies involved in manufacturing steel pipes for Gazprom's main pipeline projects.
Meanwhile, MMK's second polymer coating line, comprising hot and cold laminators and an option for an embossing roll and a tension leveler, was supplied by Italian engineering and equipment manufacturing company FATA Hunter and has an annual capacity of 200,000 mt. The products will be mainly supplied to the construction industry, which in general consumes about 60 percent of the output of these products. The commissioning of its second polymer coating line will allow MMK to step up its production of high quality color coated sheets to 400,000 mt per year, and to increase the share of its value added products.
As SteelOrbis previously reported, commissioning of MMK's plate rolling mill 5000 and of the second polymer coating line was initially scheduled for July 19, i.e. Metallurgists' Day in Russia, but was later delayed according to the schedule of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin who was due to conduct the opening ceremony.
By the end of the current year, MMK plans also to commission its new continuous slab caster No. 6 and secondary steel treatment unit, which are a part of its plate mill 5000 project, and are intended to provide input material for rolling plate with strength up to X120 to be used for large diameter pipes and exterior auto body parts. The total cost of MMK's plate mill project has amounted to Ruble 50 billion (approx. $1.57 billion).