One of the important areas of scientific and technical activity at Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works (MMK) is the development of innovative products. In the first half of 2020, 8,246 tons of new products worth 365 million rubles were shipped.

Modern metallurgy is innovative in many respects, and it is no coincidence that MMK considers the development of scientific and technical activities to be the most important task for increasing production efficiency. The Science and Technology Center at MMK is responsible for scientific and technical policy and the implementation of innovative activities at the company. The Center annually implements innovations aimed at reducing production costs, meeting consumer expectations, and introducing new equipment designed to improve product quality and conserve the plant’s resources.

In this respect, MMK is continuously working on improving metallurgical technologies and developing innovative products to meet existing or future consumer requirements. This makes the plant not only a reliable supplier of metal products, but also a promising partner that forms an integral part of Russia’s metals industry.

As part of the program to develop innovative products in the first half of 2020, MMK mastered the production technology for rolled S235J2 steel sheets with a width of 2055 mm. The aim of the project is to expand the steel range of this brand in the hot rolling mill 2500 in the sheet rolling mill shop no. 4. In order to expand the range of formats offered by the premium brand of high-strength and wear-resistant MAGSTRONG steel, the production technology for rolled sheets in 35, 40, and 50 mm thicknesses made of MAGSTRONG W900QL steel was also brought online in the first half of 2020. Problems with delivery of test batches to consumers are currently being resolved. There are plans to conduct additional production experiments to master the production technology of sheets with other thicknesses.

MMK has also further developed its technology for the production of wire rods with a diameter of 5.5 mm made of S2Ni2 and S3TiB steel. This enables MMK-METIZ Magnitogorsk Hardware and Calibration Plant to expand the brand range of the long-goods shop by equipping it with rolling stock for the production of import substitution welding wires, which are intended for bonding large-diameter pipes. The addition of titanium and boron give the products superior strength and plasticity. Rolling products were supplied to MMK-METIZ for experimental processing.

In addition, during the first half of 2020, the company developed production technology for hot-dip galvanized steel with deep-mat polymer coating modules and an average corrugated surface structure of GOST 34180, in sizes 0.45x1250 mm and 0.50x1250 mm, in color variants 7024 and 8017 and with RAL scale. These innovations extend the range of hot-dip galvanized rolled products with polymer coatings manufactured by MMK. Rolled products were supplied to consumers for experimental purposes.

According to the results of the Innovative Product Development Program, a total of 8,246 tons of new rolled metal products were shipped to consumers at a total price tag of 365 million rubles in the first half of 2020. The profit from sales of these products amounted to 50 million rubles.