Ruukki studying new grades of iron pellet together with Severstal
Rautaruukki Corporation Press release 11 February 2013 at 12.00am EET
Ruukki Metals has initiated cooperation with Russian PJSC Karelsky Okatysh, a
fully-owned subsidiary of the Severstal Group, to develop new grades of iron
pellets.
Ruukki uses iron ore pellets as a feedstock in crude iron manufacture. New
grades of pellets developed by Karelsky Okatysh are to be tested in the
laboratory at Ruukki's Raahe Works in Finland. Tests will also be conducted at
the University of Oulu in the Laboratory of Process Metallurgy, which can
simulate blast furnace conditions.
"Ruukki will provide a testing laboratory environment meeting international
standards in the project and Karelsky Okatysh will manufacture different grades
of pellet for us to test. This development project is the interests of both
Karelsky Okatysh, who are developing the pellet grades, and us, as users of iron
ore pellets," says Erkki Pisilä, Director, Development of Hot Metal Production &
Operations Control, at Ruukki's Raahe Works.
Ruukki sources most of the pellets its needs from Sweden. In spring last year,
Ruukki signed a three-year contract for supplies of coking coal and iron pellets
with Severstal Resources, a division of the Severstal Group, to reduce its
dependency on distant coking coal and to spread purchases of raw materials. The
goal is to spread purchases of raw materials and to improve the overall
efficiency of the steel-making process, where development of the blast furnace
charge material is an important factor.
For more information, please contact:
Sakari Kallo, SVP, Production, Ruukki Metals Oy, tel. +358 20Â 592 8888
Ruukki provides its customers with energy-efficient steel solutions for better
living, working and moving. Ruukki operates in some 30 countries and employs
around 9,000 people. Net sales in 2011 totalled EUR 2.8 billion. The company's
share is quoted on NASDAQ OMX Helsinki (Rautaruukki Oyj: RTRKS). www.ruukki.com
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Source: Rautaruukki Oyj via Thomson Reuters ONE
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