News & Press Releases

In March 2020, Primetals Technologies has received the final acceptance certificates (FAC) from Acciaierie Valbruna for the mechanical and electrical revamping of the AOD converter at its production facility in Bolzano, Italy. One of the main reasons for the revamping was the modernization of the converter trunnion ring and tilting drive including a new shrink fit connection. Further on a new process optimization system (level 2) was installed by Primetals Technologies, and the process control system (level 1) as completion of replacement of mechanical and electrical parts for the trunnion ring and tilting drive.

By end of February, Primetals Technologies received an order for the installation of a Manufacturing Execution System (MES) for Gerdau’s integrated plant melt shop in Ouro Branco, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The new solution will replace an existing system, which offers only limited upgrade options after several years of operation. The project will be executed by Primetals Technologies in cooperation with PSI Metals, thus combining leading automation, metallurgical and software know-how in the steel industry. The new melt shop MES offers a deep integration with the existing level 1 and level 2 systems of Primetals Technologies based on standard interfaces.

Primetals Technologies recently received another order for a subscription license for its software for process optimization (Level 2) of continuous casting plants. This was the third order in recent months for a service offering as yet unmatched anywhere in the steel industry. A modular software architecture and easy configurability of the system enable operators of continuous casters to subscribe to the functions and models they require by simply selecting or deselecting them.

In May, the Mechel Group issues the final acceptance certificate (FAC) for a LD (BOF) converter modernized by Primetals Technologies in the steel works of the Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant (ChMK) in Russia. The project aims were to replace worn-out equipment, to further increase capacity by raising the tapping weight to 160t and to optimize tap-to-tap times by cutting the blowing time. At the same time, Mechel installed a new cooling stack and the associated offgas cleaning plant to reduce converter emissions.

To expand its production capacity, Jiangxi Copper Company contracted with Southwire Company, LLC, of Carrollton, Georgia, USA, for an SCR 9000 copper rod mill including shearing, rolling, and coiling equipment supplied by Primetals Technologies. This is the first mill to achieve 54 metric tons per hour, the highest capacity system ever supplied by Southwire, which was installed in the Guangdong Province of China.