Steelmaker NLMK’s Ural steel plant, operated by its Russia Long Products division, has expanded its billet manufacturing capacities with a new 150x150mm section.
The plant previously produced only 125x125mm steel billets. The company spent around RUB400mn ($5.36mn) to modernize the casting facility at the melt shop and add a stand train in the rolling shop at the plant.
Dmitry Stopkevich, chief executive officer, NLMK Russia Long Products Division, said that the new billet section will widen its product offerings to the market. He added that the company also intends to increase its production of high-carbon wire rod, by 40pc each year.
NLMK Russia Long Products has an annual capacity of 3.7mn mt of crude steel, giving rise to 2.9mn mt of rebar and wire rods along with 500,000mt in other steel products per year.