NLMK La Louvičre, one of the leading producers of flat steel coils in Belgium and part of NLMK Group, has received the first major equipment for its 150 million euro hot strip mill upgrade that will enable the company to expand the production of thinner, stronger and more environmentally friendly steel for customers in the EU.

On Tuesday, May 5, two 100 tonne mill housings for the first finishing mill stand, one of the three stands to be replaced by the end of the year, were delivered to La Louvičre in Belgium.

The mill housings for the the first finishing mill stand are supplied by Primetals Technologies, a leading supplier of solutions for the metals industry. In 2019, Primetals Technologies were awarded the contract to modernize the hot strip mill.

Investment in the hot strip mill modernization is part of NLMK Group’s Strategy 2022. With the improved capability, NLMK La Louvičre will increase its share of the niche HRC market .

The extensive upgrade and modernization includes installation of a state-of-the art automation system, three new and three upgraded roll mill stands, new drives and motors as well as new run-out table, modernized cooling and water systems, and a new down-coiler.

The project will enable the mill to expand the production of high strength thin hot rolled coil (as thin as 1.2 mm), increase the range of high-strength products beyond 1 000 MPa yield strength and provide customers with best-in-class surface and dimensional tolerances.

The first phase of the mill transformation is scheduled for completion by end 2020, and a second phase will be completed in 2021.

About NLMK La Louvičre

Located in Belgium, NLMK La Louvičre focuses on the production of hot- and cold-rolled coils for the automotive, construction, and engineering industries. The site production capacity will be enhanced to 2,200,000 tonnes of hot-rolled steel and 1,500,000 tonnes of pickled steel. NLMK La Louvičre is continuously expanding its range of products and steel grades of cold forming & deep drawing, structural and pipe steels, quenchable boron & high carbon steels, dual phase, ferro-bainitic steels and other advanced steel grades.

About NLMK Belgium Holdings S.A. (NBH)

NBH comprises the production companies and service centres of the NLMK Europe Strip Division (NLMK La Louvičre, NLMK Strasbourg, NLMK Manage Steel Center), and two NLMK Europe Plate production companies (NLMK Verona and NLMK Clabecq). NLMK Group and SOGEPA own a 49% stake of NBH each. Remaining 2% belong to THN, an NBH-affiliated company.

About NLMK Group

NLMK Group is the largest steelmaker in Russia and one of the most efficient in the world.

NLMK Group’s steel products are used in various industries, from construction and machine building to the manufacturing of power-generation equipment and offshore wind turbines.

NLMK operates production facilities in Russia, Europe and the United States. The Company’s steel production capacity exceeds 17 million tonnes per year. NLMK’s ordinary shares with a 18.6% free-float are traded on the Moscow Stock Exchange (ticker "NLMK") and its global depositary shares are traded on the London Stock Exchange (ticker "NLMK:LI"). The share capital of the Company is divided into 5,993,227,240 shares with a par value of RUB1. For more details on NLMK shareholder capital please follow the link.

For more information about NLMK Group, please visit our website.

About SOGEPA

SOGEPA is a Belgian investment fund established in 1984 to support economic development of the Walloon region. SOGEPA contributes to the creation of sustainable businesses by investing in industrial projects and assets. The fund adheres to the best private investment practices, playing an active role in the strategic management of companies at the level of board of directors.

Alongside private investors, SOGEPA is also a trusted partner of Walloon-based companies undergoing reorganization and in general enterprises active in the industrial sector.