Tata Steel and Nippon Steel Hardfacing Company (NSH) have signed an agreement on the transfer of overlay welding technology for surface conditioning of steel rolls used at different steelmaking processes. The agreement was signed by Mr. H M Nerurkar, Chief operating Officer, Tata Steel and Yasuo Hidaka, Director and President from NSH. Also present on the occasion were officials from the senior management of Tata Steel.

NSH’s welding technology will now be available to Tata Steel for surface conditioning of steel rolls used at different stages of steelmaking processes such as continuous casting and continuous hot strip rolling. This will be used to enhance the resistance to wear, corrosion and thermal shock of steel. To transfer the technologies, more specifically, for selection of welding materials suitable for widely varying use-conditions of rolls, the agreement provides for training of Tata Steel’s personnel in Japan, sending NSH’s specialists to Tata Steel for experience sharing and training and supply of special welding equipment and consumables.

Further to Tata Steel’s invitation, NSH assessed the improvement opportunities in hardfacing technology in the company’s Jamshedpur Works. Post their study, it was observed that there was high potential of enhancing the life of many components used in LD Shops, HSM, CRM, Coke Plant, Sinter Plants, Blast Furnaces and Raw Material Handling at Jamshedpur as well as in Mines. This agreement will provide opportunities to both the companies to share feasible techniques and implement them to that both the companies can benefit. The WH Technique offered by NSH is a proven technique and it is continuously upgraded through improvements in process and consumables. NSH have integrated Welding machine, process and consumables to suit the steelmaking/ rolling process, and improved upon the life of the components and the equipment, based on feedback from NSC plants.

Tata Steel is today the 6th largest steel producer in the World. It is not only expanding its activities in India and playing a pivotal role in the development of the country but is also spreading its operations in Europe, Asia and other geographies. The company is also focusing on expanding its product line and move towards higher-grade products with the introduction of advanced production facilities. In this situation, the introduction of NSH’s overlay welding technology for roll surface conditioning forms an important part in the process of quality improvement, cost reduction and productivity enhancement in continuous casting, hot strip rolling and other core production processes. The Agreement is an outcome of Tata Steel’s appreciation of NSH’s long-accumulated welding technology for roll surface conditioning.

The technology transfer began initially as a part of Nippon Steel Corporation’s on-going general technical assistance in equipment maintenance to Tata Steel, and in consideration of the special nature of the technology, the Agreement has specifically concluded between Tata Steel and NSH.

Based on the experiences of technical transfer and supply of products to steelmakers of Korea, China, Taiwan, Brazil, U.S.A. Europe, etc. in the past, and in line with Nippon Steel Corporation’s overseas strategy, NSH intends to further expand its overseas activities and strengthen the friendly relationship with Tata Steel.