The 65th anniversary of founding Krivoy Rog-based “KrivorozhStal” State Mining and Smelting Works is not only the holiday for employees, but also an event in the history of Ukrainian metallurgy. At the same time, it is another opportunity to summarize what has been done and to evaluate development prospects.
“KrivorozhStal” has turned 65
The 65th anniversary of founding Krivoy Rog-based “KrivorozhStal”
State Mining and Smelting Works is not only the holiday for employees, but also an event
in the history of Ukrainian metallurgy. At the same time, it is another opportunity to
summarize what has been done and to evaluate development prospects.
Present-day “KrivorozhStal” Works was established in compliance with
the Cabinet of Ministers’ regulation of October 1996, after merger of Novokrivorozhskiy
Ore Mining and Concentrating Works with Krivoy Rog Chemical Recovery Plant.
“KrivorozhStal” is located in Krivoy Rog city, in the center of the
ferrous ore field. It has a complete metal production cycle and is the biggest enterprise
in Ukraine with output bound to provide domestic and external markets with construction
and machinery rolled profiles, such as wire rod, angles, rebars, and rounds.
Construction of the Works started back in November 1931, but its birthday
is considered to be on August 4, 1934, when the first pig iron was manufactured in the
first blast furnace.
By the beginning of the WW II, the Works had three blast furnaces with the
total operating volume of 3,160 cu m, the Bessemer workshop with two 30-ton converters,
and thermoelectric plant, while the blooming mill assembly was almost complete.
During the War, the Works was gravely damaged, whereas the equipment was
partially evacuated to allied Russian enterprises. After the War, active reconstruction
and development of the first completion stage of the enterprise commenced and, by
September 1951, three blast furnaces were already operating. Sintering plant and
maintenance shops were also put into service.
Rapid growth of the enterprise started in the second half of the 50s. New
blast furnace No.4, oxygen-converter plant No.1, blooming mill 1150 with low steel
quenching, merchant and rod mills were all put in operation.
Intensive development continued in the 60s. Back then, in short terms,
there were constructed three blast furnaces with volume of 2,000 cu m each, open-hearth
shop, oxygen-converter plant No.2, blooming 1300, skelp, merchant, and rod mills.
In 1974, construction and commissioning of the blast furnace No.9 with a
5,000 cu m volume, unique merchant mill 250-6 and the double-bath steel-making vessel
allowed the plant to achieve the highest output in the USSR in respect to pig iron, steel,
and rolled metal.
Simultaneously, maintenance center, power infrastructure, and auxiliary
departments were developing. Mastering of new equipment and technologies, introduction of
innovative experience, and machinery modernization were conducted concurrently with
building and reconstruction of production mills.
During its functioning, the enterprise experienced stages of growth,
development, economic instability and successful revival. Now the enterprise is operating
uniformly; we have learned to evaluate our potential properly, set attainable objectives
and efficiently achieve them.
Presently, “KrivorozhStal” includes:
-
ore mining and concentrating complex, which comprises quarry, two
grinding mills, two concentrating mills, two sinter units with iron ore output capacity of
5.5-6.0 mln. tons per year; -
chemical recovery production with the total coke producing capacity of
2.5-3.0 mln. tons per year; -
metallurgic works containing sinter unit, six blast furnaces,
oxygen-converting and open-hearth shops, two blooming mills, five merchant and two rod
mills, as well as small-section rod mill.
The Works has got the capacity for 4.6-5.0 mln. tons of rolled products
annually. Presently, “KrivorozhStal” is the main Ukrainian producer of rebar steel
made of medium-carbon grades, as well as of high-endurance heat-treated rebars. Rebars are
made in profiles No.8-32 mm in rods, moreover, in No.6 and No.8 in bundles. Merchant mills
also manufacture round assortment, 8 to 30 mm in diameter, angles from 25×25 to 45×45 mm,
hexahedrons and squares of different profile sizes. Rebars have a notably wide range by
steel grades, diameters, and standards.
In compliance with the DSTU 3760-98 National Standard of Ukraine, we
manufacture:
-
A-400, A-420, and A-500 class rebars with less than 0.22% carbon content;
-
A-600, A-800, and A-1000 class rebars from 20GS, 25G2S steel grades in
rods, 10,12,14, and 16 mm in diameter.
This year, we have started manufacturing rebars according to the American
ASTM A-615 standard in profiles No.3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 with bar length of 20, 30 and
40 feet. Rebars in a bundle are counted and marked to meet the requirements of the
American market. To avoid bar weakening during welding, microalloying with titanium and
boron is employed during the smelting process.
Wire rod (5.5 to 16.0 mm in diameter) production by the enterprise is
especially intensive. Depending on orders, we manufacture wire rod:
-
according to the standards of Ukraine and former USSR, out of St1-3kp/ps
(rimmed, semi-killed) steel grades and St 60-70 kk rope grade; -
according to American A510 M-95 standards, out of SAE 1005, SAE 1026
steel grades with fixed silicon content to ensure galvanization at customer’s site; -
under DIN 17145 standard for welding wire.
As a merit of a purposeful marketing policy, wire rod mills 150-1 and
merchant wire rod mill 250/150-6 are fully utilized. Owing to implementation of completely
new technology for smelting, casting, rolling and heat tempering on “Stelmor” line,
wire rod has high technological characteristics as of content of inclusions and as of deep
drawing and ductility.
“KrivorozhStal”-made wire rod, as well as other types of products, are
strengthening their positions on the metal market and enjoy sufficient demand. This occurs
since metal is manufactured from high-purity charge (ore from iron ore quarry for blast
furnaces) and steel is smelted with low scrap content, which allows obtaining the low
level (the sum total of not more than 0.20%) of non-ferrous impurities (chromium, nickel,
and copper).
Products of the enterprise are supplied to many Ukrainian manufacturers and
exported to more than 30 countries worldwide. Currently, they are in stable demand, which
can be explained by systematic long-standing innovative approach of our specialists to
metal quality problems. Quality system certification for rebars under ISO-9002 standard is
a result of all this work – the enterprise received certificate from “TNO”
Certification Institute (Netherlands). This certificate confirms that the system of
quality control used by “KrivorozhStal” corresponds to ISO- 9002 requirements in
regard to both manufacturing process and sales of rebars in accordance with customers’
demands.
The enterprise has achieved definite positive results in its business
activities lately. Now, for the first time in recent years, the rate of return reached the
zero level, that is we almost discontinued unprofitable functioning. The main aim on all
the levels is to continually save materials and power, maximally decrease all the types of
production costs. We solve this complex problem by price cuts for raw materials, stock and
power, along with implementation of successful technologies. Merger with Novokrivorozhskiy
Ore Mining and Concentrating Works and Krivoy Rog Chemical Recovery Plant has allowed
reducing manufacturing costs by USD 24-25 per ton of rolled metal. Notably, decisions of
the President of Ukraine, Cabinet of Ministers and other ministries and institutions had
certain positive impact on “KrivorozhStal”.
Since the Works was exempted from fines and penalty fees, while our bank
accounts were released in compliance with the order of the Cabinet of Ministers,
"KrivorozhStal" has got the possibility to build up current assets. Taking into
consideration positive economic activities, in the forthcoming years, we have to
consolidate all our financial, technical, and technological efforts on development of
major manufacturing. Therefore, we should accomplish the following tasks: construct
continuous billet casting units, equip blast furnace No.9 with pulverized coal injection
unit, expand the volume of ore oxidants concentration on ore mining and concentrating
facilities etc.
Naturally, we do not forget about social problems as well. Presently, our
employees and their families can spend their vacations at the Black Sea seashore
rehabilitation center, as well as receive necessary prophylactic treatment at the
specially equipped center.
“KrivorozhStal” is open for cooperation with domestic and foreign
partners in the field of trade, development and modernization of production, as well as in
integration of new technologies.
“KrivorozhStal” is not only the principal enterprise for Krivoy Rog
city, but for the whole region as well. It is an integral part of Krivbass and the level
of residents’ welfare largely depends on the Works’ functioning.