Zaporizhstal completed a set of overhauls of key rolling mills

Zaporizhstal Iron and Steel Works completed a set of major overhauls of the main rolling units in accordance with the annual capital investment program. The cost of equipment upgrades exceeded UAH 230 million. This was reported to GMK Center by the company’s press service.

For two weeks, specialists from engineering and other departments, Metinvest-Promservice and contractors have been working around the clock in the hot rolling mill and cold rolling mill to overhaul BTS-1680 and Slabbing-1150 mills and the continuous pickling unit (CPU).

“The repairs will improve the efficiency of the units, reduce the risk of potential unplanned downtime and the level of rejects in the production process. The biggest challenge was not the complexity or scope of the work, but the formation of a team to carry it out: due to mobilization and migration, we are experiencing a significant shortage of experienced specialists, both within the team and in the teams of our contractor partners. Nevertheless, we managed to organize safe and well-coordinated work at the site, involving almost 850 specialists, and complete the planned repairs on time,” said Taras Shevchenko, Acting General Director of Zaporizhstal.

At the BTLS-1680 mill, the greatest attention was paid to the renewal of gear and power reducers, the comprehensive replacement of rollers, electric motors, hydraulic and lubrication systems, and cassettes with coiler support arms. The specialists also replaced a section of the mixed gas pipeline, etc.

At Slabing 1150 rolling mill, the roller troughs and manipulator components were successfully replaced. The seats of the slats and roll supports of the horizontal stand were restored by surfacing and milling. The horizontal roll stand drive motors were repaired and bearings replaced.

The main works performed at BTA-4 included the replacement of control and power modules, a compressor, a rail feed track for coils, trolley wheels, and the restoration of the walking beam to its design position.

In addition, the second stage of the overhaul of the hydrochloric acid regeneration unit BTA-4, an environmentally friendly equipment of the shop that ensures high-quality pickling of rolled products in renewable hydrochloric acid solutions, is underway in the cold rolling shop.

Thus, the specialists of the shop and Zaporizhvognetryv are replacing the cyclone lining and its acid-resistant refractory masonry, support ring and pipe. This will ensure reliable operation of the closed pickling solution regeneration cycle. During the first stage of the repair, the reactor burners, return dust pipelines, etc. were updated.

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Zaporizhstal has allocated more than UAH 1.2 billion to upgrade production equipment and treatment facilities at the complex. The program focused on maintaining and upgrading equipment to ensure its reliable operation in unforeseen conditions.