Iskenderun Iron & Steel Works Co. (Isdemir), Turkey, a member of the Erdemir Group, has placed an order with SMS Demag AG, Germany, for modernization of its oxygen steelmaking plant and supply of a twin-strand continuous slab caster. The order is valued at 73 million Euros.

With this project, Isdemir, which currently produces only long products, is now moving into the production of flat products. A portion of the steel produced at the upgraded facility will be rolled in a works belonging to the Erdemir Group.

SMS Demag will supply Isdemir’s oxygen steelmaking plant with three new converters. The
respective heat weights will be increased from 125 to 200 tonnes, with planned annual production rising to 5.25 million tonnes. The new converters will enable the working volume to be enlarged from 115 to 200 cubic meters.

The equipment to be supplied for the oxygen steelmaking plant comprises oxygen lance and sub-lance systems, lamella suspension, and converter gearing with four frequency-controlled drive motors, which will be manufactured in SMS Demag’s own workshops in Hilchenbach, Germany. The lamella suspension represents a proven design for restraint-free installation of the converter vessel in the trunnion ring. This maintenance-free method of converter suspension using the lamella system has proven its efficiency in more than 80 converter installations worldwide.

The scope of the order also comprises detail design for two slewable twin-type ladle furnaces as well as provision of the high- and low-voltage power supply systems. The power supply systems will include transformers, and higher-level electrical and automation systems with Level 2 for the entire works. All equipment will be designed to accommodate current European environmental requirements.

The twin-strand continuous slab caster will be equipped with resonance moulds and designed for slabs with a thickness of 225 mm and widths of 1000 to 2050 mm as well as for twin-strand casting from 800 to 900 mm. The supply scope includes mechanical equipment and the higher-level electrical and automation systems, including Level 2 together with a dynamic cooling model, the process control computer and integrated quality surveillance system.

The caster will be equipped with SMS Demag’s patented soft-reduction technology. The dynamic segment adjustment will help to minimize core segregation and suppress central porosities, providing a high degree of flexibility and making it possible to produce high-quality steel grades.

Commissioning of the slab caster and the first converter is scheduled for April 2006, with commissioning of the second and third converters to follow in January and October 2007.

SMS Demag AG forms part of the Metallurgical Plant and Rolling Mill Technology Business Area of the SMS group, which 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.