Siemens VAI Metals Technologies announced that it has received an order from the Mexican steel producer Altos Hornos de Mexico SAB de CV to modernize the LD (BOF) converter in the Monclova steel works. The contract includes the engineering and delivery of key components and will be completed in the spring of 2013.

For the new LD converter (basic oxygen furnace, BOF) at Altos Hornos de Mexico in Monclova in the Mexican state of Coahuila, Siemens is carrying out the engineering and delivery for key components such as the furnace vessel, the trunnion ring and the maintenance free Simetal Vaicon Compact Link suspension.

The compact dimensions of the suspension allow maximization of the vessel volume and thus the converter capacity with respect to the space available. The tapping weight of the converter is 60 tonnes. Siemens is also responsible for the installation and startup supervision.

In the past several years, Siemens has received a series of orders from AHMSA, including a contract in 2007 for the expansion of the metallurgical plant and heavy plate rolling mill, in 2009 for the delivery of hot rolling mill equipment with new basic and process automation, and in 2010 for the delivery of the third LD (Converter No 1) converter. Converter No 2 started operation in March 2007 and converter No 3 started operation by the end of 2011.