Kametstal has completed the reconstruction of continuous casting machine No. 1

As part of the 2025 investment program, the converter shop at the Kametstal steel plant, part of the Metinvest Group, has completed the reconstruction of continuous casting machine No. 1 (CCM-1). This is stated in the company’s press release.

The second stage of the project involved upgrading key equipment for the pull-straightening devices, which ensure stable movement of the billet and precision cutting.

New motor-gearboxes with thermal shielding were installed on each of the seven streams of the CBRI-1, which solved the problem of premature equipment failure due to high temperatures. In addition, encoders have been installed on all upper motors, which stabilize the speed of the workpiece and increase cutting accuracy thanks to feedback.

The reconstruction was carried out without additional machine downtime, maintaining the production of high-quality commercial billets for domestic and European customers. Before replacing the equipment, technical preparation was carried out on each stream, and the upgrade was performed in pit stop mode during a technological pause.

As a result of the second stage of the reconstruction, steelmakers received a number of technical and economic advantages. In particular, the service life of the motor reducers of the stoves has been increased several times, and maximum precision in cutting billets has been achieved, which reduces steel consumption. In addition, the optimization of the pulling and straightening device ensured a reduction in electricity consumption on the upper and lower motor reducers by 1.2 kWh with stable casting.

As reported by GMK Center, Kametstal recently began a major overhaul of the coke oven gas pipeline in the primary gas refrigerators section of the coking chemical products capture shop. The main purpose of the repair is to improve the reliability, safety, and efficiency of the gas pipeline.