CONTINUOUS CASTING HEADLINESProcess /
Continuous Casting
ArcelorMittal Kryviy Rih, Siemens Begin Construction of CCM
Jun. 3, 2010 Management of ArcelorMittal, ArcelorMittal Kryviy Rih, and Siemens VAI has jointly announced that construction of the first Continuous Casting Machine (CCM) at the ArcelorMittal Kryviy Rih has begun. Jean Jouet, CEO, ArcelorMittal Kryviy Rih, and Werner Auer, CEO, Siemens VAI Metals Technologies GmbH & Co, exchanged copies of the signed contract and made the first symbolic dig on the construction site.
“By signing this contract and taking this decision to start building our first CCM, we are not only sticking to our investment obligations according to SPA, but we also demonstrate our strong will to modernize this plant and turn it into a modern technologically advanced facility,” said Jouet. “CCM is needed to meet the best international practice and the customer requirements. For this project, we’ve selected a supplier with a proven global reputation and strong presence in Ukraine. It is also important that 80% of works on this project will be sourced locally, from companies in Kryviy Rih and Dnepropetrovsk region.”
Construction of the CCM is a key part of the company’s modernization program as well as one of its investment obligations according to the sale and purchase agreement (SPA). This project includes construction of all related infrastructure and facilities, including electrical substation, water treatment plant, and de-dusting unit.
Capacity of the new CCM will be over 1.2 million tonnes of steel per year. Start-up is targeted for September 2011.
The CCM will offer numerous technical advantages:
- 10% energy saving in steel production per ton of steel
- Ladle furnace providing possibility to clean and alloy the liquid steel and to produce a wider range of product qualities
- Higher degree of automation to ensure safer working conditions
- 10% reduction of emission per ton of billet in steelmaking
- 10% better yield, 90% higher availability.