Kamet-steel increases billet production using new technology

Mastering stop casting allowed us to increase production and steel quality

In 2024, Kamet-steel’s BOF Shop reached a new level in the development of continuous casting technology using locking mechanisms on continuous casting machine No. 1. Thanks to this technology, the company has expanded its range of high-quality products and increased its output, the company said in a statement.

The main feature of stop-casting is to protect hot metal from secondary oxidation using a dipping cup, which improves the quality of the billet. This makes it possible to produce steel with higher requirements for chemical composition and macrostructure, and increases production margins.

As part of the program to develop new products, last year the company successfully launched the production of continuously cast billets with a cross section of 200×200 mm from 40X, 45X1 and 45 steels. It is used for the production of 130 mm diameter wheels. Due to the development of the required quality parameters, the production of this billet was transferred from CCM №2 to the first machine, which made the process more efficient.

In 2024, Kamet-steel produced and shipped 2.94 thousand tons of new billets for domestic consumers and the European market.

One of the key tasks that the team of specialists is currently working on is the introduction of auto-start of the machine’s jets during stop casting. Switching to the Auto-Start mode minimizes the influence of the human factor and improves the quality of the cast metal.

In 2025, Kamet-steel launched an investment program with a total budget of UAH 2.5 billion ($59.8 million), a record high in recent years. Key projects include the overhaul of blast furnace No. 9 and the construction of a solar power plant.