Rolled-products manufacturing in Russian Ferrous Metallurgy during 2004–2005: Objectives for the near term

Abstract

It has been two years since the Fifth Congress of Rolling-Mill Specialists was convened. Rapid growth of the metal-consuming sectors and favorable conditions in the external market have led to increases in the output of metal products, stimulated investment, and increased expenditures on the reconstruction and modernization of existing production facilities. An analysis of capital investments in 2004–2005 showed that most of the activity centered on modernizing and adding to production capacity in coke and coal chemicals production, blast-furnace smelting, steelmaking, and increasing the supply of energy resources. Most of the new capacity added in the rolled-products divisions of plants was for the fourth conversion (coating application systems, pickling units, heat-treatment facilities). Now it is necessary to focus more attention on bringing rolling mills up to modern standards. This is the only way to avoid losing market share to foreign competition. Such an approach should prove considerably less costly than building entirely new facilities.