The UAE-based Star Cement has shifted from mild steel to SSAB?s Hardox Wear Plate steel grades, aiming to achieve a turnaround in its machinery downtime and increase production
Hardox Wear Plate is a product of the Swedish steel giant SSAB.
Commenting on the difference between mild steel and Hardox wear Plate steel grades, Velayuthan, general manager at Star Cement, said, ?If we use a normal steel plate, it will breakdown in two to three months, and then we have to take an intermediate stoppage, replace it or repair it etc. Since we switched to Hardox Wear Plate, we have been consistently running for 330 - 331 days over the last four to five years, because of its low wear and tear.?
He further added that after switching to Hardox Wear Plate, Star Cement?s capacity increased from 6800 tonnes per day to 8300 tonnes per day.
Since maintenance expenses are one of the largest cost centres (around 25 per cent) for cement plants, machinery and equipment play a major role in cement and clinker production. Breakdowns and stoppages can be costly affairs, not just for the investment involved in replacing or repairing parts, but mostly due to the negative impact on output.
Therefore, quality of steel used in manufacturing becomes critical to saving time, and maintaining or increasing output.
Star Cement commented that the company is using Hardox 600 in places and parts where wear and tear is more, due to its higher strength and durability properties. It further added that the Hardox 450 aims to ensure the consistency of product?s quality compared to mild steels or cladded plates.
?We are looking forward to more collaboration with them for several other grades of Hardox Wear Plate to suit their diverse needs,? concluded Moideen Irshad, regional sales manager at SSAB Middle East.
