MMK Hosts Major Metallurgical Forum
On April 4, Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works (MMK) welcomed the 17th International Congress of Steelworkers and Steel Producers "From Ore to Steel" - ISCON 2023, dedicated to current topics in the development of the steel industry.
The three-day event is taking place April 4-6 on the grounds of MMK. The company has previously hosted the congress in 2002 and 2008. According to Konstantin Kosyrev, Chairman of the Congress Organising Committee and Deputy General Director of the CNIITMASH scientific research institute, the present forum is set to have the largest attendance since it was first held in 1992: 326 participants represent almost 100 companies and organisations, including top managers and specialists from leading Russian metallurgical companies, representatives of industrial science and specialised higher educational institutions, and specialists from metallurgical equipment producers.
In his welcome remarks on behalf of MMK management, the Company's Chief Metallurgist Sergey Pekhterev noted that MMK has significantly upgraded its production facilities since the last congress of steelmakers was held in Magnitogorsk in 2008. Today, the plant’s steelmaking production is in line with the latest trends in industrial and environmental safety as well as production efficiency. "We really have something to be proud of, and we are pleased to share our experience with our colleagues," Sergey Pekhterev said.
He went on to discuss the development of MMK's production complex, including the launch in 2019 of the high-tech sinter plant No. 5, the modernisation of blast furnace production, the ongoing construction of coke battery complex No. 12 and the recent launch of environmental facilities at MMK’s steelmaking shops. These developments have an environmental focus and are aimed at developing the Company’s production base while drastically reducing its impact on the environment.
Alexey Koptsev, chief specialist of Marketing and Technical Support at MMK, presented the Company’s experience in mastering and developing innovative products as part of the Company's "Perfect Product Portfolio" strategic initiative. MMK’s key areas of work in this regard include modern rolled metal production for the construction industry, new solutions in the production of hot-rolled steel, innovative products for the automotive industry and the production of household appliances.
The Congress’s three-day programme is focused on the applied sciences and centers on knowledge exchange, as well as highlighting recent achievements in metallurgical production. During the plenary sessions, participants will discuss the latest trends in the production and consumption of raw materials for ferrous metallurgy; new opportunities in the production of high-quality metal products; promoting cooperation between metallurgists and enterprises in adjacent industries; and advanced training for ferrous metallurgy specialists. One of the key topics of the event is ensuring technological sovereignty in terms of the domestic metallurgical industry’s mineral resource base and production.
The second day of the Congress will feature an extensive tour programme around the grounds of MMK and Magnitogorsk. It will cover two routes to production lines and plant departments – including the steelworks, the sinter plant, the blast furnace shop and the modern rolling complexes – as well as the multifunctional park "Attraction" that is being created in Magnitogorsk upon the initiative and investment of Viktor Rashnikov, Chairman of the Board of Directors of MMK.