The KAMAZ foundry continues reengineering production. Two of the three new Otto Junker furnaces have already been put into operation. According to the project, all old furnaces will have been replaced with new ones by 2025.
The Otto Junker furnace is an induction holding furnace with a capacity of 65 tonnes. The useful volume is 50 tonnes – this is how much the furnace can produce. And the remaining 15 tonnes are liquid metal, which is constantly in operation, since the furnace is never completely shut down.
The first of the new furnaces was launched on August 20, the second one – on September 10 this year. Assisted by experts from Otto Junker, the foundry is learning to use new equipment. Dmitry Pimenko, Head of Iron Casting Production, has already noticed positive changes in their work. “The new furnaces are much quieter. It is worthy of note that these furnaces are without radiation. The working part is wholly closed. The metal is not visible. The furnace is opened twice a month for slag skimming,” said Dmitry Primenko.
In addition, slag is removed from old furnaces every shift, up to 10-15 times a day. The Otto Junker furnaces are less labour-consuming. “The castings from these furnaces are much better. The quality of the surface and the metal prove it. It is noticeably cleaner. Much less slag is removed from the ladles. For example, we change the containers of the old furnaces three to four times a day, but only once those of the new ones. Also, as soon as we had launched the Otto Junker furnaces, we saw a decrease in waste casting by about 2.5-3%,” said the manager.