JSW Vijayanagar Metallics (JVML) has commissioned a new 350-ton Ruhrstahl Heraeus (RH) unit from SMS Group.
The installation at Vijayanagar Works Steel Plant 4 in India marks the world’s first operational combination of a RH Ladle Rocker with Fast Vessel Exchange (FvE).
Nikhil Agashe, vice president of JSW Steel, said: “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 maximises our operational efficiency, while improving safety and maintainability. SMS Group’s solution directly supports our commitment to delivering higher-quality steel to our customers.”
The facility enables JVML to produce various grades of high-quality steel for industries such as construction and manufacturing. The total production capacity is 3m tons per year.
SMS Group highlighted that the RH vacuum treatment yields cleaner steel with superior mechanical properties.
Christina Godolt, contract manager at SMS Group, added: “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 customers 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.
