WCA January 2018

Industry news

A more efficient steel production process

A NEW steel making plant, belonging to Chadormalu Mining & Industrial Co (CMIC) and built on technological supplies and engineering provided by Tenova in consortium with SMS Concast, has been successfully started up in Ardakan, Yazd Province, in central Iran. The order to Tenova was placed by Engineering and Commercial Services GmbH (CPG), in partnership with Parsland Mines & Industries Development Company (PAMIDCO). The plant, fed with DRI pellets, is equipped with a 170-ton electric arc furnace (EAF) and ladle furnace (LF) provided by Tenova, and a six-strand continuous caster provided by SMS Concast, and has provision for future installation of a vacuum degasser that will allow production of special steel grades (SBQ) for both internal use and export. Tenova EAF, designed to produce 1.2 million tons per year of billet from cold DRI, is equipped with a 160 MVA transformer and a chemical package with a total rated flow of 10,000Nm 3 / hour. The EAF, currently processing a mix of cold DRI and scrap, was designed to process hot DRI directly charged

❍ The Chadormalu site in Iran

engineering of auxiliary plants and equipment. This greenfield project was developed with strong cooperation with local subcontractors, who supplied steel structures, distribution network and auxiliary equipment following Tenova basic engineering. Parts of the EAF and LF were also built in Iran based on Tenova detailed engineering. Tenova – Italy Website : www.tenova.com

from the plant’s iron reduction reactor at a temperature up to 600°C, with an estimated productivity increase of 30 per cent against the design target. When the hot DRI charging system is in place, Tenova EAF is expected to be the first furnace in Iran to produce steel through this process. Beyond supply of the technological equipment, Tenova developed for CPG an extensive plant engineering package including overall plant process, logistics, and basic

Huber closes $630m sale of silica business to Evonik

company’s global diversification into engineered materials. “The strength of our Huber silica business was built, in part, from the collaborative spirit of our silica employees, who adhere to best practices in environment, health, safety and sustainability, ethical behaviour, respect for people and operational excellence. These guiding principles at Huber are the foundation of our company culture and ability to deliver superb value for our customers,” said Mike Marberry, president and chief executive officer. “We thank our silica employees and know their talents and expertise will be highly valued by Evonik.” Huber will continue as usual to serve its HEM customers who use other non-silica materials such as ground calcium carbonate and fire-retardant additives across a broad range of applications. As an expert in developing and manufacturing speciality engineered materials, HEM takes great pride in delivering products and service to its industrial customers worldwide. J M Huber – USA Website : www.huber.com

The J M Huber Corporation has completed the sale of the silica business unit of Huber Engineered Materials (HEM) to Evonik Industries AG, a global speciality chemicals company. The $630 million transaction was completed after approvals from the European Commission and other global regulatory bodies, and transfers ownership of the HEM Silica facilities in North America, Europe and Asia to Evonik. Strategically, the transfer of the silica business is advantageous for both companies. Proceeds from the sale will enable Huber to invest and expand its product portfolio in other areas, including potential future acquisitions of speciality chemicals or materials businesses. For Evonik, bringing together the two diverse silica businesses will further improve the company’s value proposition as an integrated global provider, better positioned to serve a broader base of customer needs, particularly in North America and Asia. The silica business has been a fundamental part of Huber for more than 60 years, providing a runway for the

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Wire & Cable ASIA – January/February 2018