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).
In January-April of this year, Ukraine increased exports of processed cast iron in physical terms by 37.4% compared to the same period last year, to 574,057 thousand tons from 417,941 thousand tons.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS) on Tuesday, during the period in question, exports of pig iron in monetary terms increased by 46% to $226.282 million.
Exports were mainly to the US (83.05% of shipments in monetary terms), Italy (11.34%), and Poland (2.7%).
In the first four months of the year, the country imported 29,000 tons worth $55,000 from Brazil (68.52%) and Germany (31.48%), while in January-April 2024, 15 tons of pig iron worth $35,000 were imported.
As reported, on March 12 of this year, in accordance with a decision by President Donald Trump, the US began imposing a 25% tariff on imports of Ukrainian steel products, except for pig iron.
In 2024, Ukraine reduced exports of processed pig iron in physical terms by 3.4% compared to 2023, to 1 million 290.622 thousand tons, and in monetary terms by 6.1%, to $500.341 million. Exports were mainly to the US (72.64% of shipments in monetary terms), Turkey (8.03%), and Italy (7.30%).
In 2024, the country imported 38 tons of pig iron worth $90 thousand from Germany, while in the same period of 2023, it imported 154 tons of pig iron worth $156 thousand.
According to preliminary data, Ukrainian metallurgical enterprises increased their production of total rolled products in January-April of this year by 0.5% compared to the same period last year, to 1.982 million tons from 1.973 million tons.
According to information from the Ukrmetallurgprom association on Friday, steel production during this period increased by 1% to 2.425 million tons, and pig iron production increased by 8.1% to 2.363 million tons.
In April, 547,000 tons of rolled steel, 692,000 tons of steel, and 661,000 tons of pig iron were produced, compared to 478,400 tons of rolled steel, 550,500 tons of steel, and 563,200 tons of pig iron in the previous month.
As reported, Ukraine increased its total rolled steel production in 2024 by 15.8% compared to the previous year, to 6.222 million tons from 5.372 million tons. Steel smelting during this period increased by 21.6% to 7.575 million tons, and pig iron by 18.1% to 7.090 million tons.
In 2023, Ukraine increased its total rolled steel production by 0.4% compared to 2022, to 5.372 million tons, but reduced steel production by 0.6%, to 6.228 million tons, and pig iron production by 6.1%, to 6.003 million tons.
In 2022, the country reduced total rolled steel production by 72% compared to 2021, to 5.350 million tons, steel by 70.7%, to 6.263 million tons, and pig iron by 69.8%, to 6.391 million tons.
In 2021, 21.165 million tons of pig iron (103.6% compared to 2020), 21.366 million tons of steel (103.6%), and 19.079 million tons of rolled steel (103.5%) were produced.
Ukraine in January-April this year reduced the export of cast iron by 52.7% compared to the same period last year, to 451,142 tonnes.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS), over the specified period, the export of cast iron in monetary terms decreased 50.4%, to $220.179 million.
At the same time, exports were carried out mainly to the United States (52.42% of deliveries in monetary terms), Turkey (18.58%) and Italy (17.59%).
In January-April 2022, Ukraine imported 15 tonnes of cast iron from Germany for $25,000, while in the first four months of 2021 it imported 46 tonnes of cast iron for $49,000 from Germany (76%) and Slovakia (24%).
As reported, Ukraine in 2021 increased the export of cast iron by 4.2% compared to 2020, to 3.236 million tonnes, the export of cast iron in monetary terms grew by 78.1%, to $1.643 billion. At the same time, exports were carried out mainly to the United States (53.61% of deliveries in monetary terms), Italy (22.08%) and Turkey (9.74%).
In 2021, Ukraine imported 185 tonnes of pig iron worth $226,000 from Germany (74.34%), the Russian Federation (20.35%) and Slovakia (5.31%), while in 2020 it imported 593 tonnes worth $417,000.
Ukraine in January-August this year increased exports of cast iron in quantity terms by 6% compared to the same period last year, to 2.173 million tonnes.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service on Wednesday, during the specified period, exports of cast iron in monetary terms increased by 93.7%, to $1.127 billion.
At the same time, the products were mainly exported to the United States (57.07% of supplies in monetary terms), Italy (20.38%) and Turkey (10.89%).
Over eight months of 2021, Ukraine imported 149 tonnes of cast iron for $163,000 from Germany (64.42%), the Russian Federation (28.22%) and Slovakia (7.36%), while in January-August 2020 it imported 412 tonnes for $292,000.
Ukraine in January-May this year increased exports of cast iron in quantity terms by 4.1% compared to the same period last year, to 1.252 million tonnes.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service on Wednesday, during the specified period, exports of cast iron in monetary terms increased by 70.8%, to $600.902 million.
At the same time, exports were carried out mainly in the United States (59.45% of supplies in monetary terms), Turkey (13.82%) and Italy (11.83%).
In January-April 2021, Ukraine imported 73 tonnes of cast iron worth $92,000 from Germany (86.96%) and Slovakia (13.04%), while over the five months of 2020 it imported 314 tonnes of similar products worth $209,000.
