London, 27 August 2020

Primetals Technologies receives final acceptance for revamp of 1,700 mm hot strip mill at Ilyich steel in Ukraine

• Revamp included new roughing mill with heavy edger, two new descalers, new coilbox and upgrade of finishing mill
• Automation system makes mill ready for Industry 4.0
• Annual production capacity increased from 1.36 to 2.5 million tons
• Product mix and product range are extended

In May, PJSC “Ilyich Iron and Steel Works of Mariupol” (Ilyich Steel) issued the FAC for the revamp of its 1,700 mm hot strip mill (HSM 1700). The revamp of HSM 1700 further increases MMKI’s competitiveness through the extension of product mix and range, improvement of quality, increase of productivity and reduction of production costs. Production capacity will grow from 1.36 to 2.5 million tons per year. A state-of-the-art automation system makes the plant ready for Industry 4.0.

Primetals Technologies was responsible for the basic and detail engineering as well as for the supply of core components for the hot strip mill, encompassing the installation of a new reversing roughing mill with heavy edger, a new coilbox and the upgrade of the finishing mill. The scope included new motors and drives for the coilbox and finishing mill pinch roll descaler area as well as automation systems level 1 and level 2 for the roughing and finishing mill. The supervision of installation and commissioning of the mill was also handled by Primetals Technologies. After the successful joint implementation of the continuous casting machine Nr. 4 at MMKI, this project was the next key milestone in the long-term partnership between Metinvest and Primetals Technologies.

The revamped HSM 1700 is capable of processing larger slabs from the new Primetals Caster Nr. 4, which was commissioned in 2018, with thicknesses between 170 and 250 millimeters and produces hot strip with a width ranging from 900 to 1,600 millimeters and thickness between 1.2 and 8.0 millimeters. The maximum coil weight was increased from 15 to 27 metric tons.

Ilyich Steel is a part of the Metinvest Group and one of the largest iron and steel works in Ukraine. The company produces a wide range of flat products made of carbon, low-alloyed and alloyed steel grades for various applications. These include heavy plates for pipelines, shipbuilding, pressure vessels and the construction industry, as well as hot and cold rolled plates and coils. It is the largest producer of cold rolled galvanized sheets in Ukraine.

1,700 mm hot strip mill (HSM 1700) of Ilyich Steel in Ukraine. The hot strip mill was revamped by Primetals Technologies (Photo courtesy Metinvest).

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.

METINVEST GROUP is a vertically integrated group of steel and mining companies that manages every link of the value chain, from mining and processing iron ore and coal to making and selling semi-finished and finished steel products. It comprises steel and mining production facilities located in Ukraine, Europe and the US, as well as a sales network covering all key global markets. Metinvest’s business is divided for financial reporting purposes into two segments: Metallurgical and Mining. Its strategic vision is to become a leading vertically integrated steel producer in Europe, delivering sustainable growth and profitability resilient to business cycles and providing investors with returns above the industry benchmarks. For the first quarter ended 31 March 2020, the Group reported revenues of US$2.5 bn and an EBITDA margin of 15%. More information on www.metinvestholding.com