The installation of equipment has begun at the metal rolling mill under construction in Miory
According to Petr Shimukovich, the target dates for the start of commissioning work are fast approaching, and by January 1, 2020, the implementation of the investment project and the creation of an import-substituting and export-oriented white tin production facility in Miory are expected to be completed. Domestic and foreign consumers of white tin are awaiting this moment. The plant is actively working on forming a sales market for its products, and the geography of future supplies to Europe and Asia has already been outlined.
– Currently, over 500 people from 10 subcontracting organizations from Belarus and Russia are working on site, reported Petr Nikolaevich. – We have coped with the main task for this year: to close the thermal envelope of the main production building – the rolling shop – before winter. The framework has been erected, wall enclosures have been installed, the roofing has been laid, the heating system has been mounted, and gates and windows have been installed.
The Miory Metal Rolling Plant is classified as a first-category facility in terms of complexity and importance.
By the way, residents of Miory and those who regularly travel along the Polotsk – Braslav road could observe the progress of this work. From a high point on the bypass road, the construction site of the plant under construction is clearly visible, including the building of the huge rolling shop. It rose from the ground first as patches of poured concrete slabs, then took shape as a delicate metal framework, and now it is clad in bright thermal insulation panels.
To appreciate the scale of the construction, consider these figures: 46 thousand cubic meters of concrete have been laid on site, about 300 thousand cubic meters of soil have been removed, and almost the same amount of sand has been brought in for its replacement.
– Work inside the building is continuing as scheduled, – said Petr Nikolaevich. – The installation of the main technological equipment is underway. It has been delivered to the site almost in full. The first mill, the main one in the technological chain, is being installed. The readiness level is high. Rolling barrels, frames, and feeding elements for rolling sheets are already in place. Beneath the mill, at a depth equivalent to a 4-story building below the zero mark, is the supporting infrastructure – equipment that will ensure its operation. This includes lubrication systems, cooling systems, emulsion supply systems – large tanks, pumping units, pipelines. There is still a lot of work to be done.
Heating is available, lighting is partially completed, and utilities are needed to supply working media to each unit – water, steam, nitrogen, hydrogen, natural gas. Each requires its own engineering network. The installation of technological equipment is planned to be completed by the end of May. This deadline is quite realistic. Following this, commissioning will begin.
The adjustment process itself, emphasized Petr Nikolaevich, is a complex procedure. Its progress will depend on the quality of equipment installation. It is necessary to ensure that all specified parameters and tolerances are maintained perfectly. The mill must be capable of producing tinplate with a thickness of 0.1 mm, which will be used for packaging of canned goods, perfumery, varnishes and paints, beverages, and will also find application in other areas.
Plant General Director Petr Shimukovich: 4600 tons of equipment need to be installed with the highest precision. The technologies are unique, which is why the installation accuracy required is maximal.
– And for now, 4600 tons of equipment need to be installed with the highest precision, – explained Petr Nikolaevich. – The technologies are unique, which is why the installation accuracy required is maximal. Installers, the supplier's installation supervision team, and specialists from the general contractor and the client are currently working to achieve this.
In addition to the main sheet rolling shop, the plant has about a dozen auxiliary facilities: a compressor station, an energy center, a main step-down substation, water treatment, a central workshop, wastewater treatment facilities, an oil and chemical reagent warehouse, and a central administrative building.
The relevant equipment is being supplied to all these facilities. Its delivery also proved to be a difficult task: the weight and dimensions significantly exceed those permitted for public roads.
Petr Shimukovich also touched upon the issue of staffing for future high-tech production. The plant already has a core of specialists with experience in similar enterprises.
– We will invite some people from similar enterprises, offering decent working and living conditions, – said the General Director.
Production will be round-the-clock. The white tinplate strip must be produced continuously, it can be cut to any size at the customer's request or wound into rolls of 25 tons and sent by rail. The competitive advantage of the enterprise – the production of white tinplate with a thickness of 0.1 mm – allows us to confidently say that not only production will be continuous, but also commercially profitable sales.