STEEL GRIPS newsDesk

China’s contribution and effects on global steel industry

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 20:43:01 PST

China’s steel production has gone up from 127 Mt in 2000 to 489 Mt in 2007, increasing by about 70 Mt a year. As we know, production of one tonne of steel calls for over 1.5 times of iron ore (much more in case of lean ore like China’s), one tonne of coal in various grades, half a tonne flux, 8 tonnes of water and electrical power for making and processing.

Global steel prices expected to peak before the year end

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 20:22:37 PST

World steel prices are currently at all time highs. Since August 2007, hot rolled coil average transaction values in North America have risen by almost $US600 per tonne. EU prices have moved up by approximately $US530 per tonne and Asian figures have advanced by more than $US350 per tonne.

Historic rises in EU steel prices despite slowing demand

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 20:17:01 PST

EU steel prices are currently at record levels after meteoric advances through the first half of 2008. The MEPS hot rolled coil average transaction value has climbed by EUR 310 per tonne since the low recorded in January of this year. This represents an increase of approximately 65 percent, or almost $US500 per tonne at the current exchange rate.

QuinLogic unleashes additional yield potential

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 14:21:26 PST

A group of software and quality engineers have founded QuinLogic, provider of software for improving quality throughout the steel and non-ferrous production process. The new company based in Aachen, Germany, features Friedrich Luecking as representative of Products and Marketing, Hans Peintinger for Sales and Finances, as well as Stephan Keil for R&D. Marion Bruecher-Wenner is in charge of Human Resources and administrative tasks.

QuinLogic: new company creates SIS-independent production quality management software

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 14:03:54 PST

First ultra-thick-slab caster in China

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 22:06:02 PST

The Chinese steel producer Shougang Group Co. awarded Siemens VAI Metals Technologies a contract for the supply of a continuous-casting machine capable of casting slabs in thicknesses ranging from 250 to 400 millimeters. Shougang will thus be the first steel producer in China capable of casting ultra-thick slabs. The caster will be installed in the existing steel works Qinhuangdao ShouQin Metals Material Co. Ltd. located in the coastal city of Qinhuangdao in Hebei Province.

PSI annouces takeover of 4Production

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 15:05:39 PST

Integration of the aluminium and copper specialist 4Production

Characterisation of a low hydrogen electrode - role of coating factor on the welding performance and resultant properties

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 10:37:27 PST

Low hydrogen electrodes corresponding to E7018 were produced with three different coating factors. The effect of coating factor on the performance of the welding electrode and properties of resultant weldments was assessed. Midst the low (LCF- 1.575), medium (MCF-1.770) and high (HCF-2.075) coating factor electrodes produced, the HCF electrode offered better shielding effect; however, it did not provide the best toughness. The relatively inferior impact properties of HCF welds are on account of inclusions, arising from higher quantum of slag, and associated cleaning issues. On the other hand, the inadequate shielding caused the poor impact properties of LCF welds. The corrosion behaviour of these weld metals (LCF, MCF and HCF) seems to be influenced by the cleanliness (inclusion level) and, in general, the weld metals showed inferior corrosion resistance compared to the parent metal.

Evolution of annealing texture in Ti-stabilized interstitial free steel

Sun, 10 Aug 2008 10:51:30 PST

Cold rolled and batch annealed Ti-stabilized interstitial-free grade steels have been used for textural and microstructural investigation. The a-fibre in the steel, detrimental to deep drawing applications, has been found to be strong even after batch annealing. This has been attributed to the inheritance of the strength of the fibre from the hot band. The presence of a stronger recrystallization texture in the surface region than in the central region has been accounted for by the deformation and orientation path history of cold rolling texture components and the texture inheritance from hot band. A marginal increase in rm value has been observed for the larger grained samples of 78 % - 80 % cold rolled than smaller grained 73 % cold reduced sample. All the results obtained have been explained with the help of orientation distribution function (ODF), volume fraction of a and g-fibre along with their components, volume fraction ratio (g/a), and the microstructure. The present data analyses indicate that the deep drawability of the steel can be improved by modifying the rolling and annealing parameters.

Drives and automation for new plate mill at Ningbo Iron and Steel, China

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 21:58:04 PST

Chinese steel producer Ningbo Iron and Steel Co. has awarded Siemens a contract to engineer and supply the drive and automation systems for a new 4.3-meter plate mill. All the systems and components used are part of the Siroll PM solution which was specially developed for plate mills.

Siemens VAI grows the blast furnace business in Stockton on Tees

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 21:52:18 PST

The growing worldwide demand for pig iron will accelerate the expansion of the blast furnace business in the coming years. Siemens VAI in Stockton on Tees, UK, the global competence center for development, engineering and commissioning of blast furnaces, expects to double its order intake within the next two years.

Plate mill for Canadoil Plate Ltd., Thailand

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:27:21 PST

Canadoil Plate Ltd. has placed an order with Siemens VAI Metals Technologies to supply equipment for a new 5 meter plate mill in Thailand. The heavy plate rolling mill is designed mainly for the production of plates required in manufacture of high grade pipe, pressure vessels and structural steels for the energy industry.

Successful start-up of new rolling mill for rebars and plain rounds at Stefana S.p.A., Italy

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 11:30:48 PST

Stefana S.p.A., a manufacturer of bars and wire rod located in Ospitaletto, a town in the northern Italian province of Brescia,
awarded a contract to SMS Meer, a company of the SMS group, Germany, in 2005 for the supply and installation of a complete bar
mill for 120 t/h (140 t/h with hot charge).

Minimill for Siam Yamato Steel, Thailand

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 11:09:46 PST

SYS - Siam Yamato Steel Co. Ltd., Bangkok, has placed an order with Concast and SMS Meer GmbH for the supply of a minimill for the production of medium sections at its Rayong Works, Thailand.

ArcelorMittal to expand electrical steel production at Saint Chély d’Apcher, France

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 15:02:44 PST

ArcelorMittal has announced a 76 million euros investment to expand electrical steel production capacity at its Saint Chély d’Apcher plant in Southern France, a move in line with the Group’s strategy to strengthen its position in high added value steel products.

Logistics system and additional production control system for the ChTPZ Group, Russia

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 12:40:09 PST

Together with their Russian partner, Malahit, PSI has been charged by the ChTPZ Group with the supply of a warehouse and transport management system (WTM) for the Chelyabinsk large-tube plant as well as an advanced line sequencing (ALS) and production execution system (PES) for the coating line within the tube welding complex in Chelyabinsk.

ArcelorMittal increasing self sufficiency in raw materials

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 14:56:28 PST

ArcelorMittal is to acquire the Concept Group ("Concept"). Concept, located in southern West Virginia and adjacent to the recently acquired Mid Vol Coal Group in the Central Appalachian Coal Basin, produced 0.8 million tons of metallurgical coking coal in 2007.

Scrap trader orders 1.8 Mt/a minimill for Ukraine

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 13:03:38 PST

The Ukrainian-based scrap trader Euro Finance Ltd. placed an order with Siemens VAI Metals Technologies for the supply of a minimill at a new production facility in Byelaya Tserkov near Kiev. The project includes an electric arc furnace (EAF), a ladle furnace, a billet caster, a long-product rolling mill in addition to auxiliary facilities.

Production management solution for Dofasco, Canada

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 12:16:08 PST

Canadian Dofasco Inc. has charged PSI with the delivery of a complete Manufacturing Execution System (MES) for all production areas from hot rolling to finishing at the site in Hamilton, Ontario.

Vallourec & Sumitomo Tubos do Brasil places orders for the construction of its blast furnace plant

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 12:14:36 PST

Vallourec & Sumitomo Tubos do Brasil Ltda (VSB) proceed placing orders of plant and equipment for the greenfield project at Jeceaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The centrepieces of the hot metal base of this plant will be two modern blast furnaces.