VIZ-Stal, NLMK’s Ekaterinburg-based subsidiary, has implemented a supplementary investment program for the reconstruction of a number of its production facilities. This programme will result in better steel quality and improved electrical steel competitiveness on the global market.

The arrangements planned are as follows: the reconstruction of cooling facilities on the production floors; the reconstruction of a heat-resistant application unit; and the installation of metering equipment at the rectifying facilities. The overall project is worth RUR190 million.

In July VIZ-Stal launched a laser jet for processing finished products, improving the magnetic properties of rolled steel by 10-12%. The project is worth over RUR 120 mln and has been implemented as part of NLMK’s Technical Upgrade Program.  

VIZ-Stal is a leading producer of cold-rolled electrical steel and is the largest producer of grain-oriented electrical steel in Russia. Its share of global transformer steel production is almost 11%,with a 56% share of the Russian market. Over 80 % of its products are exported. The production facilities have an annual capacity of  about 200,000 tonnes of electrical steel.