Technology & Steel Application - News

TATA Steel Speciality Steels, UK, has chosen SMS Mevac, Germany, to design a VIM X-eed? vacuum induction melting furnace for its Stocksbridge site.

The facility will produce high purity steels and specialist alloys for the aerospace industry, a sector where TATA Steel is already established as a leading supplier. The project is currently in the design phase and is intended to go into production in 2014, pending final capital approval.

Mr Mark Broxholme MD of TATA Steel Speciality Steels stated that “The potential addition of a VIM furnace to our asset base for aerospace steel production is an exciting prospect. This initiative is fully aligned with our business strategy of focusing on high addedvalue products, for markets with truly global reach. We are pleased to be collaborating with the SMS group who have the stature and expertise to bring this development to a successful conclusion.”

SMS Mevac, a market leader in primary and secondary steelmaking, has expanded its portfolio to include tertiary metallurgy/special steels utilising its extensive plant engineering know-how, which has been accumulated over more than 40 years as a plant builder. This strategic move into tertiary metallurgy currently incorporates three key melting and remelting technologies, namely VIM, VAR and ESR 2 units. This new product area is supported by in-house experts having more than 20 years of experience with market leading specialist steel makers. This know-how, combined with SMS Mevac's reputation for delivering high-performing equipment, will create state-of-the-art facilities to meet both current and future market requirements.

Mr Cihangir Demirci deputy general manager Tertiary Metallurgy at SMS Mevac, commented: “I’m very happy to be able to apply my extensive knowledge of speciality steelmaking and super alloys to the design of this new VIM unit with integrated vacuum pouring. Designing from the standpoint of a producer means that reliability and maintenance are at the heart of the design. This will result in a reliable unit with consistently high availability and performance.”

The VIM unit for Tata Steel comprises an 8-t vacuum induction melting crucible together with the associated vacuum pumping, material charging and process control equipment. All core components to be delivered by SMS Mevac will be designed to allow TATA to increase the melt size to 18 tonnes at a later date. Ancillary equipment for crucible preheating and lining maintenance are also provided. The unit incorporates vacuum ingot pouring for both top poured and bottom poured ingots, in single or multiple ingot configurations. The ingots will then be refined further in Tata’s VAR facilities before being rolled or forged into products for the aerospace market.

Mr Michael Thiehofe MD at SMS Mevac commented that “SMS Mevac is honoured to be the chosen supplier for the VIM X-eed? unit for the Stocksbridge Works. We will closely cooperate with Tata Steel’s experts to design a plant which will satisfy the requirements of this demanding, high-end market.”