Danieli to Modernize OMK Thin Slab Caster

United Metallurgical Company (OMK) Vyksa Works in Russia, a Metal-Expo regular exhibitor, contracted Danieli to modernize a thin-slab casting and rolling plant, supplied by Danieli in 2005. In a two-stage project, Danieli will extend the single-strand slab caster to increase its metallurgical length from 14.2 to 17.3 meters. The caster extension is part of a broader strategy to ensure the plant's ability to absorb the additional liquid steel coming from a recent upgrade to the electric arc furnace and the forthcoming installation of a new meltshop by Danieli Centro Met, including an EAF, a twin LF and a twin Vacuum Degasser. The first phase of the caster extension is planned for September 2020 during the annual plant shutdown. The additional segment No. 10 will be installed and two extraction unit modules will be maintained. Modifications will be made without major impact to the existing foundation and steel structures, keeping the installation within the maintenance shutdown and without production losses.

The TSC modernization also will include installing the latest Danieli technological packages, such as:
- Q-COOL (the advanced, 3D secondary cooling system) to ensure uniformity, accuracy and reliability during the solidification process;
- Q-CORE (Liquid Core and Dynamic Soft Reduction system); and,
- Q-PULSE (the unique system to physically detect the solidification end) to ensure that the Dynamic Soft Reduction is always applied within the targeted solid fraction.

Following the upgrade of the existing EAF and installation of segment No 10, OMK will increase its productivity up to 9%.

The second phase will consist of replacing two extraction units and adding segment 11, increasing the metallurgical containment length to 17.3 m. This will improve plant productivity by an additional 11%.

The installation of the second phase is planned for August 2021 to coincide with the startup of the new meltshop complex.