Ma Steel has recently made significant progress in its independent research on the localization of CSP furnace roller refractories. This breakthrough marks a major step toward the domestic production of CSP furnace rolls at Maanshan Iron and Steel Co., Ltd., bringing substantial economic and social benefits. It also strengthens the company's ability to innovate independently, boosting its overall technological competitiveness.
Previously, all CSP furnace rolls used by Ma Steel were imported, leading to long delivery times and high costs. In 2004, the company initiated a research project aimed at localizing the refractory castables used in these rolls. The Technical Center and Yigang Rolling Plant collaborated on this initiative. Through extensive and detailed research, the team gradually mastered the technology. By analyzing the physical and mineralogical properties of imported rolls, they discovered that even the imported materials had certain defects. To overcome these challenges, the team conducted extensive experimental work, exploring new materials. After more than six months of collaborative effort, the laboratory research was successfully completed, achieving a key technical breakthrough.
The special refractory materials developed by Ma Steel for CSP furnace rolls have demonstrated superior performance compared to their imported counterparts. Under the combined efforts of technical staff, the team produced a total of 22 experimental furnace rolls. Out of these, six were tested on the CSP roller hearth furnace. So far, the first batch of rolls has been in service for 16 months—far exceeding the 12-month contract life of imported rolls. These rolls are still operating smoothly, completely eliminating the cracking issues commonly found in imported products.
The second batch of four experimental rolls was put into operation on April 20, 2005, and has been running for nearly a year. Based on operational data, the experimental rolls perform just as well as the imported ones. Moreover, the cost per roll is less than half that of the imported version. Considering that Ma Steel uses 450 furnace rolls annually across two roller hearths, this technology could save the company over 20 million yuan each year. This achievement not only reduces dependency on foreign suppliers but also enhances the company’s long-term sustainability and competitive edge in the global steel industry.
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