Corus Engineering to convert concast plant for Monnet Ispat

Tuesday, 16 Sep 2008

It is reported that Corus Process Engineering has been awarded a contract worth in the region of GBP 1 million to provide a complete design for a single strand continuous slab caster for Monnet Ispat & Energy of India.

The contract involves converting the existing 254 millimeter thick slab caster to a machine that is capable of producing three different thicknesses of high carbon steel slab. The overall contract between CPE and MIEL includes two other aspects, engineering services including refurbishment of the turret arms and the hardware sales and uplift from site.

Mr Willie Cowan project manager at CPE said that “CPE will also provide mechanical and electrical design services in converting the turret arms and Tundish Cars to fit the new Concast plant configuration which requires considerable design effort and know how. Much of the overall design effort will be spent converting the existing Concast plant equipment which previously cast 254 millimeter thick slabs, to plant that is capable of producing three different slab thicknesses: 200 millimeter, 254 millimeter and 300 millimeter. This involves modifying the moulds, Top Zones and segments.”

Monnet Ispat & Energy Limited is a company based in India that has diverse interests including sponge, steel, ferrous alloys, power, infrastructure and mining, both in India and overseas. MIEL will use the refurbished Concast plant to cast 200 millimeter, 254 millimeter and 300 millimeter thick high carbon steel slabs which will be used for rolling mild steel plate of various grades.

In 2001, the two Concast plants at Corus’ Llanwern site ceased operations, leaving just the rolling mill which still produces around 1 million tonnes of steel per year. In 2004-05, these two Concast plants were removed from site and temporarily stored at Corus’ Workington, Teesside and Llanwern sites. Some major items of the CC2 Concast plant were then supplied to Corus’ Port Talbot site for a new machine. The remaining parts from both machines will be supplied to MIEL.

Uplifting the various parts of the Concast plant ex Llanwern will be a major logistical exercise. The base of the turret has a diameter of 5.5 meters and weighs around 40 tonnes. The body measures 9.5 meter x 6.5 meter x 5 meter and weighs around 125 tonnes. Cranes and four 62 tonnes, 28 meter long booms will be required to lift the plant at Teesside.