The TMK Group, Russia, has awarded an order to SMS Demag AG, Germany, to supply two five-strand continuous bloom casters for the Seversky Tube Works (STW) near Yekaterinburg, and for the Taganrog Metallurgical Works (Tagmet) near Rostov. The order for the new facilities, including modernization of the continuous caster at the Volzhsky works, is valued at 45 million Euros.

As part of the project, existing ingot casting units will be completely replaced by the new continuous casters. This will result in lower production costs and higher quality round blooms. Construction of two identical facilities offers considerable synergies with regard to maintenance and spare-parts handling.

Scope of supply for these identical facilities comprises mechanical and hydraulic equipment for each five-strand bloom caster as well as electrical and automation systems, including Levels 1 and 2. The mould and oscillating area will be equipped with a parabola mould, stirrers, and the resonance oscillator developed and patented by SMS Demag.

The casters will be capable of producing section sizes ranging in diameter from 150 to 400 mm. The mould and oscillating area is designed such that 150 x 150 to 340 x 340 mm square moulds can also be utilized. The scope of supply also includes torch-cutting and sample-cutting machines as well as a stamping machine.

Planned annual capacity for each continuous caster is around 950,000 tonnes. Commissioning is scheduled for the first and second halves of 2006, respectively.

TMK Group manufactures tube steel grades for the oil and gas industry, a portion of which is also intended for export.

SMS Demag AG forms part of the Metallurgical Plant and Rolling Mill Technology Business Area of the SMS group. The SMS group is internationally active in plant construction and mechanical engineering relating to the processing of steel, non-ferrous metals and plastics. The group is divided into the Business Areas of Metallurgical Plant and Rolling Mill Technology, Tube, Long Product and Forging Technology and Plastics Technology. In the year 2003 around 9500 employees worldwide generated a turnover of around EUR 2.20 billion.