OREANDA-NEWS. Regular meeting of Joint Committee on Rails and Rails Fasteners took place at Azovstal Iron and Steel Works, the press service of the company reports. The meeting was attended by representatives of Steel Works, “Ukrzaliznytsya” (Ukrainian Railroads), “Ukrniichermet” UkrNITST “Electrostal”, main consumers of transport steel products and leading experts of Research & Development Centers in Ukraine who provide scientific support in manufacture and maintenance of railroad rails, wheels and rail fasteners.

Significant trends in PJSC Azovstal Iron and Steel Works and “Ukrzaliznytsya” further cooperation were discussed by members of the meeting. The issues of improvement of product quality, rail strength and rail manufacturing processes were reviewed as well. At present, scaling modernization takes place at Ukrainian rail roads. About 1446 kilometers of racks are planned to be modernized in 2007 that is twice more than the scope of similar work in 2006. In 2008, the scope of repair and maintenance works is expected to be increased due to the growth of cargo-passenger transportation, aging of current tracks and so on.

Large scale modernization of rail roads will require the supply of high quality materials. PJSC Azovstal Iron and Steel Works was chosen as a unique national producer of rails and rail fasteners for the needs of “Ukrzaliznytsya”. Complex of rolling mills focused on production of rails and heavy sections is operating at Azovstal currently. This year Azovstal Iron and Steel Works will ship to “Ukrzaliznytsya” over 240 thousand tons of products to the amount of 1 billion 47 million UAH, that is 29.7% more as compared to similar supplies in 2006.

In 2006, Azovstal Iron and Steel Works shipped 185 thousand tons of rails and rail fasteners to Ukrainian rail roads, and for 9 months this year it shipped 224 thousand tons of products. Supplies of rail and rail fasteners are made in the field of strategic partnership between Azovstal Iron and Steel Works and Ukrainian railway roads started in 2005. Under special order of national railway roads, Steel Works developed and started production of side-hardened railway rails. Application rails with such characteristics allows “Ukrzaliznytsya” to increase train speed, carrying capacity of main lines and provide proper safety level of train operation.

On October 18, when regular meeting of the Joint Committee on Rails and Rails Fasteners was held, Azovstal Iron and Steel Works at 5-th meeting of ”Metal-Forum Ukraine-2007” (Kiev) of steel producers, machinery producers, steel traders and steel consumers was rewarded with the Diploma of winner in the third All-Ukrainian “Metal-Progress” contest in nomination “The best product of the year” for its thermo-hardened railway rails.

“At present, Azovstal Steel Works is the leading rail producer not only in Ukraine, but in CIS countries as well, says Dmitry Livshits, General Director of Azovstal. Long experience, innovation technologies, competent production strategy, high standards of order execution – all these factors gain prestige for Azovstal on the steel market.”