OJSC “Serovsky Ferroalloy Plant” is the second largest domestic producer of alloying and deoxidizing additives for steelmaking. Located in the north of the Sverdlovsk region in the city of Serov. It is a city-forming enterprise.
Creature
As the steel industry developed, metallurgical enterprises required an increasing number of ferroalloys for various purposes. The main supplier of additives was (and remains) the Chelyabinsk Ferroalloy Plant. However, its capacity was not enough.
On January 15, 1951, the USSR Council of Ministers decided to erect a new enterprise for the production of ferrochrome, ferrosilicon and ferrosilicochrome in the Urals (in the vicinity of the city of Serov). The project was developed by the Kharkov Institute "Giprostal". As the main technology, the production was selected by the electric furnace method, which requires a large amount of electricity. To ensure uninterrupted supply of electricity to the Serov Ferroalloys Plant in 1954, a thermal power station - Serovskaya State District Power Plant - with a capacity of more than 800 MW was built.
First heat
While the workshops were being built, the leadership of the future giant of domestic metallurgy gathered and trained the best specialists from all over the Soviet Union. Talented graduates of universities of the Urals, Siberia, Moscow, Ukraine were actively invited. The average technical staff was trained on the spot - at the Serov Metallurgical College.
On June 22, 1958, a significant event for the staff of the Serov Ferroalloy Plant took place - the team of the master Veselovsky made the first successful melting. The memorable date became the plant’s birthday. However, this was only the beginning of the formation of the enterprise. Only by the end of 1958 was the first phase of the Smelting Shop No. 1 commissioned, which consisted of 6 ore reduction furnaces. The power of each was 10.5 MVA. The main products were 75% and 45% ferrosilicon.
Phased development
By the end of 1961, the first furnace of the Smelting Shop No. 2 was launched at the Serov Ferroalloy Plant. A year later, 9 furnaces with a total capacity of 31.5 MVA produced already. If in workshop No. 1 they received high-carbon ferrochrome, then in workshop No. 2 they received medium- and low-carbon.
Gradually, the company took a leading position in this segment of metallurgy. By the end of the 60s, one third of the ferroalloys produced in the country were made here. The Serovites pressed their colleagues from Novokuznetsk and Aktyubinsk, approaching the performance of the Chelyabinsk plant.
On the cutting edge of progress
In 1963, work began at the Serov Ferroalloy Plant to expand capacities and improve the technological base. In particular, three unique for the USSR electric furnaces with a closed arch were built to produce high-carbon ferrochrome, equipped with an advanced gas purification system. Subsequently, this technology was introduced at other specialized enterprises.
In parallel, the plant’s specialists, in collaboration with scientists, developed an innovative technology for producing low-carbon ferrochrome of very high quality by mixing melts. A number of workers for the work done were awarded the USSR State Prize. These products have won a number of prestigious awards at international exhibitions and contributed to the expansion of export supplies. Subsequently, this technology was used to produce chrome nickel and chrome manganese alloys on an industrial scale.
In 1976, factory workers received low-carbon ferrochrome by pouring liquid ferrosilicochrome into the oven. For innovations in the field of metallurgy in 1981, the team was awarded the Order of the Ore Red Banner.
New time
Despite the difficult transitional period of the 90s, the Serovsky plant remains one of the flagships of the industry. In 1993, he was transformed into a joint stock company. Factory workers continue to master new technologies. For example, slag is processed in the workshop of the central production workshop of the Serov Ferroalloy Plant, founded in 2002. If earlier they did not pay attention to it, considering it to be useless production waste, today valuable raw materials are obtained from it. Along the way, the burden on the ecology of the region is reduced.
It turned out that slag contains significant amounts of ferrochrome, the extraction of which was previously not cost-effective or impossible. Modern technologies make it possible to obtain ferrochrome from waste accumulated over decades, which allows to increase production and at the same time reduce production costs without loss of quality. In addition, slag is an excellent raw material for the manufacture of a variety of building materials.
Jobs
Serov Ferroalloy Plant is a dynamically developing enterprise, and, therefore, needs first-class specialists. Within its walls, workers who are able to master new areas of activity and strive for self-development are waiting with pleasure. By the way, getting a job at the enterprise is not so simple. Given the high earnings, a good social package and decent working conditions, vacancies are seldom vacated and quickly filled. Necessary specialists for NWF are trained at the Ural universities and at the local technical school.
Production and Products
The main production consists of two workshops. The first operates nine shaft furnaces of electric arc type with a capacity of 22 to 27 MVA. Here are made:
- Ferrosilikochrom brand FHS48.
- Ferrosilicon grades FS65 and FS45.
- High carbon ferrochrome FH800-FH900.
Workshop No. 2 specializes in the production of low-carbon and medium-carbon ferrochromes. Eight electric furnaces operate here, each with a capacity of 5 MVA to 7.5 MVA.
Address of the Serov Ferroalloy Plant: 624992, Russian Federation, reg. Sverdlovskaya, Serov, st. Nahabina-1.