OREANDA-NEWS. March 24, 2010. MK Uralmash has supplied automation line for spongy zirconium processing for Chepetsk mechanical plant (in Glazov). The contract was concluded in January 2005. The project was designed by experts of Metallurgical Equipment Division, Uralmash-Engineering. The equipment was manufactured at Uralmashplant facility. At present erection of the automation line has been completed, no-load tests and load tests have been performed.

A unique technique has been realized at Chepetsk mechanical plant. Zirconium by its nature can catch fire during machining, therefore previously its treatment was normally done at low speed. New line now is located in a separate, absolutely insulated building and complete treatment of zirconium is carried out in inert gas environment. Due to this the metal cannot catch fire, so its processing can be done at high speed thus increasing the line capacity. All the equipment is completely automated, as the access of an operator to the equipment will be possible only once a month.

Uralmashplant realizes two more projects regarding development of equipment for processing of rare metals: section for spongy titanium processing for Solikamsk magnesium plant and crusher (1000 t force press) for AVISMa-a subsidiary of VSMPO-AVISMA in Berezniki. At present the works at Solikamsk magnesium plant have been completed, section for spongy titanium processing was put into operation; a service agreement is planned to be concluded. Erection of press is in full swing at AVISMA, its commissioning is scheduled for third quarter of 2010.

All the three projects are science intensive, the main achievements of Uralmash designers of pressing equipment made during the latest years are realized in these projects. Six patents in connection with spongy titanium processing were granted. As far as spongy zirconium is concerned, one patent has already been granted and three more are under issue. It shall be noted that in all the projects the patents were taken out not only for the equipment and mechanisms but also for the manner of production.

Production of spongy titanium and zirconium is increasing every year all over the world as they find new application fields. Some foreign enterprises have already shown their interest for equipment regarding rare metal processing developed by Uralmashplant.  Uralmash plant received orders from Zaporozhski titanium-magnesium plant (Ukraine) and Ust-Kamenonogorsk titanium-magnesium plant (Kazakhstan) after these customers got acquainted with the operation of equipment in Solikamsk and Berezniki. An order from the Institute of titanium (Zaporozhje) for supply of equipment regarding spongy titanium processing for production facility being built in Republic of South Africa is under study.

Chepetsk mechanical plant is the only plant in Russia and one of the three largest manufacturers producing products of zirconium and its alloys in the world. Unique technology to produce zirconium alloys and products made of them have been developed at CMP that are used not only at nuclear power enterprises but also in chemical, oil and gas, medical and food industry.

Titanium is now widely used in aviation, space exploration, metallurgy, petrochemistry and shipbuilding; zirconium - in nuclear power, ferrous- and nonferrous metallurgy and petroleum-refining industry as well as for medical equipment and ceramics manufacture. In the next coming decade an increase in titanium and zirconium consumption is primarily connected with the development of aircraft construction and nuclear power.

The Uralmash Machine-building Corporation is one of the Russian market leaders in the field of metallurgical, mining, oil and gas, power and construction industrial equipment. MK Uralmash was created on parity with United Heavy Machinery JSC and  Metalloinvest on the basis of Uralmashplant (Ekaterinburg) and ORMETO-YUMZ(Orsk) as well as a number of engineering divisions incorporated into Uralmash-Engineering Ltd.