State-of-the-Art Steelmaking Produces World-Class Blooms

DC Electric Arc Furnace

Direct current technology, with eccentric bottom tapping, offers the best available means of making steel. Advantages include lower power and electrode consumption, longer refractory life, lower maintenance, enhanced stirring effects and more efficient tapping.

The results are significant cost savings and better steel quality.

Ladle Arc Reheating Furnace

After further refining the steel, this furnace provides the steel to the Bloom Caster at the correct temperature, chemistry and time.

Argon stirring, through a porous plug in the bottom of the ladle, promotes the homogeneous mixing of the additives to the ladle, assists in temperature control, and enhances the flotation and removal of nonmetallics.

Tank Vacuum Degasser

Vacuum Degassing reduces the level of hydrogen and other gases in liquid steel. Argon stirring during the degassing process further reduces the hydrogen content and enhances steel cleanliness.

Clean steelmaking practices, plus the benefits of the Ladle Furnace and Vacuum Degasser, mean that the Jumbo Bloom Caster receives steel with the correct chemistry and excellent internal cleanliness. Ultimately, this results in improved product performance.

Continuous Jumbo Bloom Caster

The Caster produces "Jumbo" blooms measuring 23.6" x 14.6" (344 in2). A large tundish reservoir promotes further flotation of nonmetallics, while complete shrouding is used to prevent the reintroduction of harmful gases.

The resultant blooms are world-class in quality - the ideal starting material for rerolling or forging.

44" Blooming Mill

After heat-soaking to the proper temperature, as-cast blooms can be rolled into smaller sizes. Due to their jumbo size, as-cast blooms require many passes, which provide beneficial hot work, to reduce them to their final dimension. Rolled blooms can range in size from 6" through 14" RCS, or as rectangles 6" to 14" thick x 6" to 24" wide.

Finishing and Shipping

After the blooms have been inspected and conditioned to customers' needs, identity is confirmed and bar-coded identification tags are applied. Blooms can be shipped either by rail or truck.

PST is serviced by Conrail, and is conveniently located near Interstate Highways 81, 83 and 76 (PA Turnpike).

TYPICAL PRODUCT APPLICATIONS

High pressure gas cylinders
Railcar axles
Oilfield/petrochemical forgings
Forged bucket teeth
Forged lift forks and rams