Posted on 14 Dec 2012
SMS Mevac to design a VIM furnace for TATA Steel Speciality
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.”