UK-based plantmaker Primetals Technologies has announced that it will modernize Russian long steel producer Abinsk Electric Steel Works’s electric arc furnace, ladle furnace and six-strand continuous billet caster. The aim of the modernization is to increase the production capacity of billets with cross sections of 130 millimeters and 150 millimeters from 950,000 mt to 1.5 million metric tons per year. The modernized melt shop is scheduled to come into operation at the end of the current year and the continuous billet caster in the first quarter of 2017.
According to Primetals Technologies, Abinsk will be able to produce more quality steel grades, such as high carbon steel for wire and spring steel. The new technology will not only increase the availability of the steel works, but also decrease maintenance costs. Conversion costs will also be substantially lowered. The energy requirement of the electric arc furnace will be reduced from 410 to 370 kilowatt hours per metric ton.