OREANDA-NEWS. OJSC Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works today produced its 600,000,000th tonne of pig iron since the blast-furnace's commissioning in 1932 Technical team No 1 at blast-furnace No 6 had the honour of producing the 600,000,000th tonne of pig iron.

Congratulating the blast-furnace workers, MMK CEO Pavel Shilyaev said that it was particularly significant that this milestone was reached by blast-furnace No 6. "It is fitting that this blast-furnace, which was commissioned during the war, in 1943, should receive this honour. Even more so, since this year marks the 70th anniversary of victory in WWII.

Clearly, this unit has changed dramatically in the 72 years that have passed. It has seen several reconstructions, a number of major repairs, and currently operates at a fundamentally new level. Our entire blast-furnace department, one of the largest and most efficient in Russia, has gone on to lead a whole new life," said Pavel Shilyaev.

The mill's first blast-furnace was commissioned on 1 February 1932, which has become a date celebrated like a birthday each year at MMK. Today, MMK's blast-furnace department comprises eight furnaces and is one of Russia's production facilities of this kind. Its sustainable operations are crucial for all the mill's other production departments. Over the past 15 years, most of the mill's blast-furnaces have been significantly upgraded.

Modernised furnaces have adopted sinter fines screening technology, new feed devices and state-of-the-art automation systems. Much of this renovation work focused on raising environmental standards, and contemporary aspiration systems have been installed in the blast-furnaces.

In 2014, MMK's blast-furnace department produced 10.28 mln tonnes of pig iron, a record in the mill's modern history.