Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works (MMK) is taking part in the XXIX International Exhibition of Mining Technologies "Russian Coal and Mining - 2021" which kicks off in Novokuznetsk today.

"Russian Coal & Mining" is Russia's largest exhibition project for all branches of the mining industry and a unique platform for demonstrating the latest technologies. The event is the world's No. 1 exhibition for underground coal mining technologies. The forum will also include the XI specialised Occupational Health and Safety exhibition and the VI specialised Russian Mines and Quarries exhibition.

 This is not the first time that MMK has taken part in this major forum, presenting its range of high-strength and wear-resistant steels and MAGSTRONG brand products. This import-substituting product has consistently attracted the interest of exhibitors and visitors as MAGSTRONG steels are used in the manufacture and repair of construction, quarrying and other special machinery, loaded steel structures, rock processing and shaft sinking equipment and other types of high-tech products.

These steels have already enabled many major Russian mining holdings and companies specialising in coal, copper, gold, potash and phosphate mining to fully replace their imported counterparts. The use of MAGSTRONG steels makes it possible to significantly reduce the weight of products and provides significant economic benefits. The new grades are also actively used by major machine-building companies producing shaft sinking, quarry, road-building and other equipment.

The range of these import-substituting products and their range of applications is constantly expanding, just as shipments of MAGSTRONG steels are increasing year by year at MMK. In 2020, shipments grew by 58% year-on-year. At the same time, the Company estimates that this product niche retains great potential for growth, both through import substitution and through opportunities to expand its range of applications.

MMK's specialists, along with specialists from several other MMK subsidiaries worked at the Company’s large exhibition stand. Among them are representatives of MMK’s coal mining segment - MMK-UGOL, as well as Mechanical Repair Complex and MMK-METIZ. Mechanical Repair Complex provides production facilities for processing of rolled products, including special cuts of high-strength sheet metal sliced along any trajectory with plasma cutting; manufacturing of nonstandard products from high-strength steel using bending, stamping, welding and machining technologies and design support for manufactured products. MMK-METIZ has mastered the production of welding wire of alloyed steel grades under the MagWire brand, which is designed for automatic and semi-automatic arc welding of low-alloyed structural steels with increased strength in a mixture of shielding gases. Thus, in addition to MAGSTRONG high-strength steel, MMK is ready to offer its customers the welding consumables they need and advice on welding process parameters.

The 26th International Russian Coal and Mining Exhibition takes place from 1-4 June 2021 at the Kuzbasskaya Yarmarka exhibition centre. The event is held under the patronage of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs and with the support of relevant ministries. Every year, the Forum gathers hundreds of companies and tens of thousands of visitors in Novokuznetsk, including manufacturers and suppliers of equipment, representatives of coal companies, academia and government authorities. The previous event, held in 2019, attracted 715 participating companies from 24 countries, and the exhibition was attended by over 45,000 guests.

MMK, continuing to introduce MAGSTRONG products to Russian industry, will also present these high-strength and wear-resistant steels at the Steel Structures 2021 exhibition at Expocentre in Moscow from 6 to 8 June.