At the end of 2020, Italy-based NLMK Verona, a producer of plates, forged and rolled plates, forged blocks and ingots, placed an order with Tenova for the turnkey supply of a 70t VOD (Vacuum Oxygen Decarburisation) plant, with level 1 and level 2 automation, a deslagging machine and auxiliaries equipment.

The scope of the contract includes engineering, supply, erection of all equipment, supervision of erection, commissioning and training. The new VOD plant will expand the existing production route, which currently includes an electric arc furnace, two ladle furnaces, a vacuum degassing system, a continuous casting plant, and an ingot casting plant.

The increasing demand for high-quality steel makes the vacuum treatment an essential step in secondary metallurgy process. Tenova Vacuum Degasser units (VD/VOD) feature effective removal of hydrogen, oxygen and/or carbon, based on proven technology and experience.

The new VD/VOD plant will in fact increase the overall production rate of vacuum treated steel and the product range of VOD treated steel.

Moreover, thanks to new deslagging machine and the vacuum treatment, the steel quality of the final products will improve, allowing NLMK to increase the range of quality steel already supplied.

Mario Marcozzi, Tenova sales and marketing and regional initiatives manager, said: “We are proud to have been chosen by NLMK to carry out this important project and thus contribute to the technological development of the plant, which is already considered an important reference for the production of quality steels.”