The Kametstal plant, part of Metinvest’s mining and metallurgical group and established at the Dniprovsky Metallurgical Plant (Kamenskoye, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast), has mastered the technology for refurbishing cast iron ladles for metallurgical enterprises.
According to a press release, Kametstal’s metallurgical equipment repair shop has mastered a new area of expertise: the repair of pig iron ladles. This decision is aimed at supporting the smooth operation of the blast furnace shop and will help effectively restore critical equipment in-house.
It is noted that this year’s launch of new services at the Central Repair and Maintenance Unit began with mastering the repair of cast iron ladles. This is a strategic move: the stable operation of the blast furnace shop directly depends on the number of ladles “in service.” Since the need to repair such equipment has grown, while personnel resources remain limited, the repair team has taken proactive measures. The team’s initiative, supported by the plant’s management, will address the shortage of operational equipment and ensure the stability and productivity of pig iron production.
According to the repair technology, restoration work is carried out based on the results of defect detection, which is conducted jointly with specialists from the blast furnace shop. This allows for the precise identification of weak spots and the scope of necessary repairs.
The main repair operations include sealing cracks on the vertical walls of the ladles, as well as eliminating through-wall damage in the bottom section. Such burn-throughs occur due to the aggressive action of molten iron in areas where the refractory lining is most worn. Repair crews cut out the damaged sections and replace them with new steel “patches.” Special attention is paid to the upper part of the ladle—the neck—where worn-out metal structures are replaced. The entire process involves a full cycle of technical work: dismantling damaged elements, manufacturing replacement parts, and their subsequent installation.
Dmytro Lubenets, head of the metallurgical equipment repair shop, explained that they approach the repair of each pig iron ladle individually: from defect detection and drawing development to in-house manufacturing of parts.
“The first restored unit has already returned to the blast furnace shop; we are currently restoring the second one. Since the results of the pilot repair are quite satisfactory, we decided, together with the blast furnace operators, to systematize this process: ladles that go out of service will be sent directly to the Central Repair and Maintenance Unit. This will allow us to quickly return them to service after repair and, thus, maintain the stability of the production process. In these difficult wartime conditions, such cooperation is crucial—it is our way of overcoming staff shortages and maintaining production momentum,” said the shop foreman.
It should be noted that CMU specialists have mastered the technology for repairing slag ladles with significant wear and defects. Previously, such ladles were written off for disposal and replaced with expensive new ones. In 2025, 15 ladles were repaired and returned to the blast furnace shop for further operation.
“Kametstal” was established on the basis of PJSC “Dniprovsky Coke Chemical Plant” (DKHP) and PJSC “Dniprovsky Metallurgical Plant” (DMP).
