OREANDA-NEWS. July 18, 2008. The new vacuum degasser construction will allow Ural Steel (a subsidiary of Metalloinvest Holding) to increase the quality of steel production, reported the press-centre of Metalloinvest.

With putting the vacuum degasser into operation Ural steel will launch the production of X-80 - X-100 strips with improved strength characteristics. The construction of this unit with a design capacity of 1.2 mln tons per year began at 2008 within a large scale modernization project implemented at Ural Steel.

The detail design and the equipment supplies is provided by German "SMS Mevac" - a subsidiary of SMS Group, Ural Steel’s partner in implementing the investment program. The construction of the vacuum degasser is to be finished within 3 years period. According to the project timeline, engineering and documentation works should be accomplished in 2008. The construction works will start in February, 2009.

The launch of the new vacuum degasser is an important step for improving the quality of the Ural Steel’s cast billets and plates. The vacuum degasser is designed to refine liquid steel produced in EAF, thus contributing to decrease the tenor in gaz, reduce the percentage of impurities and decarbonise the final production.

The construction of the vacuum degasser is a part of the large scale investment program implemented by Metalloinvest Holding with the aim to modernize the Ural Steel production facilities and increase the production volume.