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• JSW Vijayanagar Works implements new secondary metallurgical plant from SMS group at one of India’s largest steel sites
• Total production capacity of three million tons per year for vacuum-treated steels
• First-of-its-kind installation combining proven RH Ladle Rocker and Fast Vessel Exchange technologies to enhance production capability and safety as well as steel grade flexibility
• Facility will supply high-quality steel products for demanding industries, including automotive and construction 

JSW Vijayanagar Metallics Ltd. (JVML), a subsidiary of JSW Steel Ltd., one of India’s leading integrated steel producers, has commissioned a new 350-ton Ruhrstahl Heraeus (RH) unit from SMS group at Vijayanagar Works Steel Plant 4 in Toranagallu, India. This installation marks the world’s first operational combination of an RH Ladle Rocker with Fast Vessel Exchange (FvE), representing a major advancement in secondary metallurgy and plant efficiency.

The facility enables JVML to produce various grades of high-quality steel for demanding industries, including construction, infrastructure, manufacturing, automotive and energy. The unique RH configuration provides significantly higher process effectiveness, safety and throughput compared to conventional installations. The total production capacity is three million tons per annum (mtpa).

The RH vacuum treatment yields cleaner steel with superior mechanical properties. JVML’s RH plant features both a Ladle Rocker for controlled lifting and tilting of the ladle, and a proven FvE system. This combination delivers substantial strategic and operational improvements, including greater production flexibility, through reduced exchange times, longer vessel lifetimes and faster grade changes.

By merging the ergonomic and accessibility advantages of the Ladle Rocker with the rapid handling capabilities of the FvE system, the plant enhances safety while reducing maintenance requirements. The FvE system shortens exchange cycles and reduces idle time, enabling higher annual output without a proportional increase in manpower or footprint.

Additionally, the installation of an on-top ferro-silicon (FeSi) bunker increases on-site alloy availability. This prevents charging interruptions and shortens process times for electric steel production, leading to higher process stability and improved yields.

Nikhil Agashe, Vice President of JSW Steel, highlighted the advantages: “The new 350-ton RH unit with Fast Vessel Exchange represents a step change in our production capability and grade flexibility. It integrates seamlessly into JVML Steel Plant 4 and maximizes our operational efficiency, while improving safety and maintainability. SMS group’s solution directly supports our commitment to delivering higher-quality steel to our customers.”

Christina Godolt, Contract Manager at SMS group, commented: “Commissioning the world’s first 350-ton RH Ladle Rocker combined with FvE is a proud moment for us and our partnership with JSW Steel. This technology milestone underscores SMS group’s engineering leadership while offering clear, quantifiable benefits for our customer in terms of plant effectiveness, lifecycle costs and safety. We are delighted by JSW Steel’s longstanding trust in our secondary metallurgy plants and look forward to extending these gains across future projects.”

JSW Steel and SMS group previously collaborated on the company’s first 350-ton RH unit at Dolvi Works in 2023, followed by a second unit in 2024. Based on the demonstrated performance of these installations, JSW Steel chose to equip all RH units at Vijayanagar Works Steel Plant 4 with SMS group’s 350-ton Ladle Rocker FvE solution. This decision reinforces JSW Steel’s strategic position in the Indian market and expands its capacity to produce premium-quality steel.