Research & Development

Process Improvements

Building on the experience gained with Process Improvement Groups in Corus, the Tata Steel Group Process Improvement Teams have been set up with the aim to ensure that best practice in process technology is applied throughout the Group. This involves among other things, transferring technology that has been proven in one plant to similar other installations. An example of this is an investment at Port Talbot steelworks in energy management technology similar to systems that already exist at other plants, including TSL’s Jamshedpur plant.

The Group is continuously working on ways to reduce emissions. It is also working on the development of measuring techniques so that its operations comply with pollution reduction regulations. For example, the TSE RD&T has led a major European project to investigate the sources of fine and ultra fine particulate matter in the steel industry. The study has identified the major sources of such particulates as being emitted by a typical integrated steel plant, and also as effects of long range transport.

These results will help TSE to anticipate future legislation and to take appropriate measures to reduce any emissions from steel making to lower levels.

In India, experts from TSE RD&T’s environment department have assisted in assessing ways to maintain emissions from the Jamshedpur works at current levels when production capacity is increased to 9.7 mtpa from the current 6.8 mtpa.