April 2006 — JSC Vyksa Steel Works, Russia, has placed an order with SMS Meer, Germany, for the modernization of its 21-inch tube welding line. The work will be conducted as part of the modernization of the company’s Works No. 3.

SMS Meer’s scope of supply comprises modernization of the fin-pass and sizing stands, and replacement of the squeeze stand. Modernization of the fin-pass and sizing stands will create a roll assembly system with quick-changing facility.

The new squeeze stand is a five-roll stand with SMS Meer’s URD^® design. As with the fin-pass and sizing stands, it will be equipped with motorized adjustments and the Quicksetting system to ensure high precision and reproducibility of the settings. The 21-inch tube welding line will be equipped with a new QAS system.

SMS Meer will also supply a new hot sizing mill in which the welded mothertubes will be formed into round tubes or tubular sections with square or rectangular cross-section.

JSC Vyksa’s objectives for the modernization include expansion of the product spectrum, a significant reduction of the mill changeover times, improved product quality with respect to diameter tolerance and ovality, and the production of tubular sections. The line is predominantly used for the production of oilfield tubulars and line pipes in the size range from 8-5/8 up to 21 inches.

SMS Meer GmbH forms part of the Tube, Long Product and Forging Technology Business Area of the SMS group. SMS GmbH is the holding for a group of companies 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 2004 some 9,500 employees worldwide generated a turnover of about EUR 2.20 billion.