On 28 October 2011, NLMK Europe Management team opened the new Quenching &Tempering Steel transformation line. This investment of over ˆ100 million guarantees the sustainability of the NLMK Clabecq plant (Belgium).
This investment supports the NLMK Group’s strategy of development and innovation. Indeed, a new blast furnace and new basic oxygen furnace facility of over 3.4 mtpa capacity were put into operation at the Company’s main production site in Lipetsk (appr. half thousand kilometers from Moscow). Both production facilities were built using the best available technology, which will enable NLMK to produce high quality slabs needed for the production of Q&T steels.
The Q&T unit investment, confirmed in 2009 despite the world financial crisis, guarantees the sustainability of the NLMK Clabecq plant. The annual capacity of the new line is 250,000 tonnes; this means that one third of the production of NLMK Clabecq will pass through the Quenching & Tempering.
In recent years, the trend has been to supply the plate market with lighter products, with superior mechanical properties. The Clabecq mill specializes in the production of thin plate known for its surface finish, flatness and thickness variability control. This is the result of extensive knowledge combined with a world class production line.
Igor Sarkits, CEO of NLMK Europe-Plate, said: “Thanks to these niche markets, NLMK Clabecq will be able to upgrade to high added value product mix with abrasion resistant and high strength steels, used, for example, in the Yellow Goods (earth moving and mining equipment) and lifting & transport. Introducing a more complete offer to its customers will reduce the risk of price volatility experienced by this traditional steel sector. This will be the best guarantee for the future of NLMK Clabecq.”