COVER Nov Dec.Indd 1 STEEL TIMES INTERNATIONAL – November/December 2014 – Vol.38 No.8 CONTENTS NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014 1
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November/December 2014 – Vol.38 No.8 – www.steeltimesint.com MINIMILLS COATINGS SPANISH EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURING STEEL TIMES INTERNATIONAL – November/December 2014 – Vol.38 No.8 – November/December 2014 Vol.38 STEEL TIMES INTERNATIONAL WORLDSTEEL ANNUAL CONFERENCE COVER nov dec.indd 1 11/10/14 10:10 AM CONTENTS NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014 1 Picture courtesy of MTAG November/December 2014 – Vol.38 No.8 – www.steeltimesint.com 2 MINIMILLS COATINGS SPANISH EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURING 17 Leader 4 STEEL TIMES INTERNATIONAL – November/December 2014 – Vol.38 No.8 – November/December 2014 Vol.38 STEEL TIMES INTERNATIONAL News The latest steel industry news from around the world 11 WORLDSTEEL ANNUAL CONFERENCE India update COVER nov dec.indd 1 11/10/14 10:10 AM Get started or else EDITORIAL Editor 12 Matthew Moggridge China update Tel: +44 (0) 1737 855151 [email protected] Exporting itself out of trouble Consultant Editor Dr. Tim Smith PhD, CEng, MIM 21 25 Maintenance Production Editor 15 Monitoring lubricant quality Annie Baker Minimills SALES International Sales Manager 17 Thinking big at Big River Steel Paul Rossage [email protected] Tel: +44 (0) 1737 855116 World steel conference Area Sales Manager 21 Aluminium attacks! Anne Considine [email protected] Tel: +44 (0) 1737 855139 25 Extremely challenging times Sales Director Ken Clark 29 [email protected] Coatings Tel: +44 (0) 1737 855117 29 Simulation studies in Hot Dip Advertisement Production Process Simulator (HDPS) on Al-Si Martin Lawrence Coatings SUBSCRIPTION Elizabeth Barford Spanish steel Tel +44 (0) 1737 855028 Fax +44 (0) 1737 855034 34 Siderex - Exporting steel and ser- Email [email protected] vices from Spain’s Basque region Steel Times International is published eight times a year and is available on subscription. Annual subscription: UK £168.00 Other countries: £240.00 2 years subscription: UK £302.00 Other countries: £432.00 ) 34 Conference report Single copy (inc postage): £38.00 Email: [email protected] 39 The growing importance of DRI Published by: Quartz Business Media Ltd, Quartz House, 20 Clarendon Road, Perspectives Redhill, Surrey, RH1 1QX, England. Tel: +44 (0)1737 855000 42 ‘Steel cannot be beaten’ Fax: +44 (0)1737 855034 www.steeltimesint.com Steel Times International (USPS No: 020-958) is published monthly except Feb, History May, July, Dec by Quartz Business Media Ltd and distributed in the US by DSW, 44 The transporter bridge 75 Aberdeen Road, Emigsville, PA 17318-0437. Periodicals postage paid at Emigsville, PA. POSTMASTER send address changes to Steel Times International c/o PO Box 437, Emigsville, PA 17318-0437. Printed in England by: Pensord, Tram Road, Pontlanfraith, Blackwood, Gwent NP12 2YA, UK 42 44 ©Quartz Business Media Ltd 2014 ISSN1475-455X www.steeltimesint.com November/December 2014 Contents nov dec.indd 1 11/10/14 10:44 AM 2 LEADER All I want for Christmas is a ‘kill and win’ attitude Christmas is ‘comin’ atcha’ and by that I between aluminium and steel for the mean the big countdown has started and automotive dollar is a high stakes contest, the shops will soon be full-to-bursting with Marcus told delegates that while the light aggravated shoppers looking for a last- metal boys are in an ebullient mood, the minute bargain. For me Christmas has been steel guys have been apprehensive and a big anti-climax ever since I was forced to mystified and, furthermore, have lacked substitute train sets and toy guns for socks, a ‘kill and win’ attitude in relation to shirts and drugstore cologne. I have a the growing presence of aluminium in problem with the festive build-up because it automotive. turns out that Christmas is just another day But the good news is that the aluminium – and one I have to spend with relatives. industry’s giggles will soon turn to grimaces The phrase ‘don’t believe the hype’ and Ducker Worldwide’s ‘grandioise springs to mind. It’s not so much Christmas forecasts’ will wither in the wind, like a but what precedes it in the shape of discarded Norwegian Spruce on a cold and television advertising and false bon homie. snowy mid-January afternoon. The steel industry has had its fair share of According to Marcus, the ‘soft panache’ hype when it comes to ‘the miracle metal’ surrounding the marketing of the new – or perhaps that should be ‘the Miracle F-150 truck has concealed the inherent Metal on 34th Street’ being as Yuletide is price and cost sensitivities of the light virtually upon us. metal. Christmas came early for delegates at In short, every dog has its day and where the 48th worldsteel conference in Moscow automotive is concerned, steel’s day is yet when Peter Marcus, managing partner to come, but it’s on the way – thanks to the Matthew Moggridge of World Steel Dynamics – now making continued development of advanced high Editor his second appearance in a Steel Times strength steels; the fact that weight savings International leader – dished out the best do not mean major MPG savings; and, let’s present the industry could hope for – but face it, aluminium ain’t cheap – but it’s [email protected] not before handing out the bad news. perfect for wrapping up the turkey before Notwithstanding the fact that the battle roasting it on Christmas morning. Monocon International Refractories was founded 40 years ago and have since developed into a global market leader for slag control systems and lances as well as continuing to develop in the field of tundish lining systems and gunning materials. Part of Monocon’s success has been the development of a specialist engineering division that works in synergy with the refractory products so that they can offer customers unique products and services. They employ 120 and have a turnover of approximately £30 million and are based in South Yorkshire. They have recently made substantial investment in a new Technology Centre aimed at expanding product portfolio and enhancement of the current product range. UK & International Sales Manager Product Managers Competitive Salary + bonus + benefits package Competitive Salary + bonus + benefits package – South Yorkshire Reporting directly into the Chief Executive Officer, and as part of the The company is seeking to recruit a number of product specialists senior management team, the individual will develop and manage with a detailed knowledge of the steelmaking process. Of particular the sales strategy to increase business within existing and new interest will be candidates with hands-on experience of the customers through optimising and monitoring the performance application of refractory products that are used in either continuous of the sales team and agents. This may require recruiting sales casting or secondary steelmaking processes. personnel across Europe. Ideal candidates would need the following skills and experience: Ideally candidates should also meet the following criteria: • A refractory materials background • Graduate level or similar with strategic experience of running a • At least three years previous experience within the steel industry sales team • Be personable and able to work well individually or as part of • Previous experience of the steel production industry a team • Proven sales track record Ref 102 Ref 103 As a Global organisation, the company will offer an excellent salary package commensurate with the level of the appointment. If you have a desire to join this leader in refractories, please email a current CV along with salary details to [email protected] November/December 2014 www.steeltimesint.com Leader nov.indd 1 11/11/14 2:06 PM 4 NEWS IN BRIEF INDUSTRY NEWS Russian steelmaker boosts mill capacity Improved operating rates NLMK Group has completed an upgrade of its continuous wide- strip hot-rolling Mill 2000. It now from Nucor mills has a capacity of 5.7Mt/yr of rolled steel. The upgrade is part of Strategy American steelmaker Nucor says ton over the same period last year in the third quarter, as compared 2017, which is all about increasing that the overall operating rates due to increased gas and electric- to the planned three-week outage operational efficiency. at its steel mills increased to 81% ity costs. at Nucor-Yamato Steel in the sec- during Q3 2014 compared with The average cost of scrap and ond quarter associated with our Chinese steelmaker joins 79% in Q2 and 78% in Q3 2013. scrap substitute used during Q3 US$115 million sheet piling capi- worldsteel The company claims that its steel 2014 was down 1% to US$379/ tal project.” Hebei Iron and Steel Group has mill utilisation rate increased to ton from US$384/ton in Q2 2014, The company said that ‘the joined the World Steel Association 78% during the first nine months but up 2% on the Q3 2013 price strongest markets for the steel and Yu Yong, the company’s of 2014 compared with 74% for of US$372/ton. mills continue to be manufactured chairman, is now a council member. the same period last year. “Overall operating performance goods, including energy and auto- Hebei’s membership became official The company claims that during at our steel mills segment for the motive’. at the 48th World Steel Association Q3 2014 its total steel mill energy third quarter was much improved The American steelmaker’s third conference in Moscow last month. costs increased by roughly US$1 compared to the second quarter quarter results were much im- per ton when compared with Q2 of 2014 due to increased profita- proved from the second quarter EU steel imports rise 2014 and Q3 of 2013. Energy bility in sheet, structural, bar and and imports remain at high levels, Third country steel imports into costs for the first nine months of plate steel,” said Nucor.