Siemens VAI Metals Technologies has been contracted by OAO Severstal to supply a finger-shaft electric arc furnace, ladle furnace, dedusting system and billet caster for a new long-product steelmaking facility. Severstal decided to build a new steel works in the city of Balakovo, approximately 620 miles southeast of Moscow, in support of its effort to broaden its range of long products. The business unit will produce carbon and low-alloy structural steel that will be rolled into light structures, reinforcement bars and wire.

Siemens will supply a 125-ton finger-shaft electric arc furnace for the new mill along with a 125-ton ladle furnace, associated primary and secondary dedusting facilities and a 5-strand high-speed billet caster. After completion of the project, which is scheduled for mid-2010, Severstal is planning to produce an additional 1 million metric tons of billets.