London, November 14, 2018

Vacuum degassing plant and continuous bloom caster from Primetals Technologies brought into operation for Changzhou Eastran

• VD twin vessel plant has a capacity of 75 metric tons
• Objectives are further improvement of the steel quality and reduced working costs
• Hydrogen content reduced to less than 1.3 ppm and nitrogen to less than 50 ppm
• Continuous bloom caster produces 800,000 metric tons per annum for automotive applications
• Dedusting system improves environmental quality

A twin vacuum degassing plant (VD) and a continuous bloom caster supplied by Primetals Technologies have been brought into operation at the Chinese special steel producer, Changzhou Eastran Special Steel Co. Ltd. (Changzhou Eastran). The VD plant has a capacity of 75 metric tons. The vacuum treatment reduces the hydrogen content to less than 1.3 ppm and the nitrogen content to less than 50 ppm. The objective is to improve the steel quality even further. The five-strand continuous caster is designed for an annual production of 800,000 metric tons of steel for applications in the automotive industry. It casts blooms for pipes, spring and bearing steels. A dedusting system improves the environmental conditions on site and the new plants also reduce operating costs. Primetals Technologies received the order at the beginning of 2017.

Changzhou Eastran is part of the Changzhou Eastran Group and operates a plant in the town of Changzhou in Jiangsu Province, Eastern China, producing special steels, including bearing and tool steels. The new plant replaces obsolete equipment.

Primetals Technologies designed all the mechanical and electrical equipment for the VD plant, and supplied core components, including the vacuum pump, filters and gas cooler. The vacuum pump itself was manufactured in Germany and procured from Leybold. The system was integrated in a Leybold workshop in Tianjin.

The five-strand continuous bloom caster is equipped with a curved pipe mold. The machine radius is ten meters and the metallurgical length around 20 meters. It casts high-carbon steels at speeds from 1.05 to 1.5 meters per minute and produces blooms with a square cross-section of 200 x 200 millimeters. Production can be extended to include other rectangular and round cross-sections.

Primetals Technologies was responsible for the basic and detailed engineering, as well as for manufacturing molds, oscillators and segments. Primetals Technologies installed a number of technology packages to ensure not only a trouble-free casting process, but also blooms with high surface and interior qualities. The packages included the DynaFlex mold oscillator and straightening units with DynaGap Soft Reduction. Primetals Technologies also supplied the systems for the basic automation (Level 1). DynaGap Soft Reduction in combination with the Dynacs 3D cooling model enables blooms to be cast from high-quality pipe grades and other upmarket steels. Primetals Technologies also supervised the installation and commissioning of the continuous caster, and trained the customer's personnel.

Vacuum degassing plant (VD) from Primetals Technologies

Primetals Technologies, Limited headquartered in London, United Kingdom is a worldwide leading engineering, plant-building and lifecycle services partner for the metals industry. The company offers a complete technology, product and service portfolio that includes integrated electrics, automation and environmental solutions. This covers every step of the iron and steel production chain, extending from the raw materials to the finished product – in addition to the latest rolling solutions for the nonferrous metals sector. Primetals Technologies is a joint venture of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) and Siemens. Mitsubishi-Hitachi Metals Machinery (MHMM) - an MHI consolidated group company with equity participation by Hitachi, Ltd. and the IHI Corporation - holds a 51% stake and Siemens a 49% stake in the joint venture. The company employs around 7,000 employees worldwide. Further information is available on the Internet at www.primetals.com.

Primetals Technologies, Limited, headquartered in London, United Kingdom, is a pioneer and world leader in the fields of engineering, plant building, and the provision of lifecycle services for the metals industry. The company offers a complete technology, product, and services portfolio that includes integrated electrics and automation, digitalization, and environmental solutions. This covers every step of the iron and steel production chain—from the raw materials to the finished product—and includes the latest rolling solutions for the nonferrous metals sector. Primetals Technologies is a joint venture of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and partners, with around 7,000 employees worldwide. To learn more about Primetals Technologies, visit the company website www.primetals.com.