OREANDA-NEWS. Severstal subsidiary, Severgal has been awarded ISO 9001:2000 and ISO/TS 16949-2002 quality management certificates for the production of hot-dip galvanized cold-rolled steel by Lloyd’s Register, the company's press service announced.

As Severgal's General Director, Ivan Nefedov, commented: “Our quality management system was created and certified for compliance with the above standards from the outset. We began the ISO projects in 2004 with the main aim of creating a consistent and efficient system that could be upgraded without interruption. The work involved a large part of the Severgal team and several outside entities. As Severgal was designed and built to service high-technology consumers, mainly automakers, we believe that the award of the certificates is entirely a consequence of us keeping up with our objectives and work ethics.”

In carrying out the audits, Lloyd’s Register’s assessors praised employee training, the workforce’s involvement with the certification process, compliance with work schedules and deadlines, and the Company's commitment to further improvement.

“Obtaining the certificates show that we conform to international standards. We thank everyone who collaborated with us en route to certification under both standards,” said Mr. Nefedov. Severgal (100% owned by OAO Severstal) was set up on February 14, 2002. Investment was$210 mn and the plant has a capacity  of 400,000 tons. Its zinc-plating line was commissioned on December 12, 2005 and reached designed capacity in September of 2006. Severgal’s zinc-plating line produced its first automobile body sheet, shipped to ZAO AvtoVAZ, in March of 2006. The first automobile body sheet for external body parts was produced in June of 2006. The plant employs 260.

Severgal produces 0.4 mm. to 2.0 mm. and 900 mm. to 1850 mm wide thick zinc-plated automobile body sheets. During January through June of 2007 ZAO Severgal shipped 202,000 tons of products, including 2700 tons shipped to automakers.