First Off
Steel is a vital element in modern infrastructure and manufacturing, playing a fundamental role in many aspects of our daily lives, ranging from the buildings we live in to the cars we drive. Nevertheless, concerns regarding sustainability and environmental consequences have arisen due to the growing demand for steel and the depletion of natural resources. As a result, the circular economy framework has become more popular, emphasizing the importance of resource efficiency and reuse. This essay explores the significance of recycling steel in the context of the circular economy, highlighting its benefits and looking into how it might help create a more sustainable future.

Knowledge of the Circular Economy

The idea of the circular economy represents a shift away from the traditional "take-make-dispose" linear economic model and toward a more environmentally friendly strategy. Its main goal is to promote techniques like recycling, remanufacturing, reuse, and repair in order to reduce waste production and maximize resource value. In essence, it aims to finish the material cycle, ensuring that resources are used for the longest amount of time.
Steel Recycling: A Crucial Elements
Steel is a highly recyclable material that is in complete harmony with the circular economy's tenets. Because of its inherent strength, magnetic properties, and adaptability, it is a great candidate for recycling. Furthermore, recycling steel saves a significant amount of energy, which makes it a more environmentally friendly option than producing steel from scratch. We can greatly lessen the environmental impact of steel production and consumption by incorporating steel recycling into the circular economy framework.

The Steel Recycling Process

Steel recycling is a methodical process that starts with gathering scrap steel from different sources, such as construction materials, manufacturing waste, and end-of-life products. Following collection, the scrap is sorted and divided according to its purity and composition. The sorted scrap is then refined to remove impurities and melted in a furnace to produce high-quality recycled steel. In the circular economy, this recycled steel is then used to create new goods, closing the circle.
 

The demand for steel in India is expected to register a 'healthy growth' of 8.6 per cent against the overall global rise of 1.8 per cent in 2023, worldsteel said on Tuesday. It forecasts that global steel demand will grow 1.8 per cent in 2023 and reach 1,814.5 MT after having contracted by 3.3 per cent in 2022. In 2024, the demand will see an increase of 1.9 per cent to 1,849.1 MT, the World Steel Association (worldsteel) said. For India, the global body said, "after a growth of 9.3 per cent in 2022, steel demand is expected to show healthy growth of 8.6 per cent in 2023 and 7.7 per cent in 2024." The Indian economy remains stable against the pressure of high interest rate environment, and the steel demand is expected to continue its high growth momentum. Growth in India's construction sector is driven by government spending on infrastructure and recovery in private investment. Infrastructure investment will also support the capital goods sector growth, worldsteel said in its Short Range Outlook (SRO). Healthy growth momentum will continue in automotive. The consumer durables sector is the only sector that is underperforming due to higher inflation/interest rates that constrain discretionary spending. However, it will improve in 2024 with festive season spending and progress in the Production Linked Investment (PLI) schemes, it said. Mximo Vedoya, Chairman of the worldsteel Economics Committee, said, steel demand has been feeling the impact of high inflation and interest rate environment.  Since the second half of 2022, activities of steel using industries have been cooling sharply for most sectors and regions as both investment and consumption weakened. The situation continued into 2023, particularly affecting the EU and the US. Considering the delayed effect of the tightening monetary policy, the body expects steel demand recovery in 2024 to be slow in advanced economies. Emerging economies are expected to grow faster than developed ones, he said. "We expect the situation in China's property market will stabilise in the latter part of the year and its steel demand will record slight positive growth thanks to government measures. The 2024 outlook for China remains uncertain depending on the policy directions to tackle the current economic difficulties. We note that the Chinese economy is in a structural transition phase that may add volatility and uncertainty.

MOIL has scheduled an auction for 400 t of 70-72% grade and 100 t of 63-68% grade of high carbon (HC) ferro manganese and 8,950 t of manganese oxide ore (various grades) from its Bhandara mines and Balaghat plant on 17 May'23. SteelMint assessed (size 25-150 mm, grade HC 70%) ferro manganese prices at INR 76,000/t exw-Raipur on 8 May'23.

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Pig iron exports from Brazil fell by 51% m-o-m to 212,922 t in Apr'23 from 437,540 t in Mar'23, according to customs data. The USA was the largest importer with 140,994 t. However, cumulative export volumes remained largely stable y-o-y at 1.09 mnt in Jan-Apr'23 as against 1.08 mnt in the year-ago period.

China's coking coal prices have dropped to their lowest in almost two years. Prices dropped on prolonged lack of buying strength from coking plants. Moreover, downside pressure remains amid the continued weak transaction and looming coke price cuts.

On May 4, the CCI index for Shanxi low-sulfur primary coking coal stood at 1,738 yuan/t, ex-washplant with VAT, down by 122 yuan/t compared to pre-holiday level, notching a new low since May 6, 2021.

The index for Shanxi high-sulfur primary coking coal was at 1,399 yuan/t, also the lowest since May 12, 2021.

Prices of low-sulfur primary coking coal (S 1.0%, A 10.5%, G 80-85) at some mines in Luliang of Shanxi further dropped by 100 yuan/t to 1,600 yuan/t on May 4, ex-washplant with VAT and in cash, bringing the total reduction to 850 yuan/t from a high in March.

Over reduction of prices at several mines indeed spurred some buying interests, yet the overall sales volume was not significantly higher amid a continued lack of demand, Sxcoal understood from some miners.

Settlement levels of some online coking coal auctions continued to dip, yet not all of the reduction could result in higher volume of sales.

"Our mine put 10,000 tonnes of low-sulfur fat coal (A 0.5%, A 14%, VM 25-30, G 90) for auction at the starting price of 1,500 yuan/t, but eventually abandoned it due to thick prudent sentiment among coke firms," said an official from a Liulin-based mine in Shanxi.

The overall coking coal market sentiment remained bearish among participants surveyed by Sxcoal after the holiday, with the growing likelihood of a sixth round of coke price cuts.

Coke inventories further accumulated at production areas during the past week, and the near-term trend would remain upward given a decline in daily consumption at steel mills after putting more blast furnaces into maintenance.

Mills' on-hand coke stocks mostly stayed at medium levels and they continued to adopt a low-inventory strategy, meaning their buying appetite for coke after the holiday is still less likely to significantly increase, even though their inventories slightly dropped by the slowed transportation during the holiday.

Sxcoal learnt that some steelmakers in Hebei and Shandong, two major steel-producing provinces in China, planned to cut coke purchase prices by 100 yuan/t on May 5, as part of the effort to improve their profit margins that were notably squeezed by the continued decline in steel products prices.

The futures market extended a slump on May 4. The most-traded coking coal futures on the Dalian Commodity Exchange (DCE) ended the daytime session at 1,325.5 yuan/t, tumbling by 4.26%. Meanwhile, the most-active coke contracts on the bourse were down by 2.47% to 2,094.0 yuan/t.

Tata Advanced Systems scheduled an auction for 250 t of aluminium from its Nagpur unit on 3 May'23. About 200 of aluminium briquettes was booked at INR 125,000/t exw and 50 t of aluminium offcuts was booked at INR 151,500/t exw. However, the company is yet to approve bids, SteelMint learnt.

Non-ferrous metals prices show negative trends

Non-ferrous metals prices on the London Metal Exchange (LME) showed negative movements on 3 May 2023. The three-month aluminium futures contract inched down by 2% to $2,3...

Non-ferrous metals prices on the London Metal Exchange (LME) showed negative movements on 3 May 2023. The three-month aluminum futures contract inched down by 2% to $2,321/t. Zinc prices edged up by 1% to $2,630/t. Lead prices edged down by 2% at $2,131/t. Nickel prices inched down by 1% to $24,743/t. Copper futures inched down by 1% to close at $8,468/t.

Indian mill reduces HRC and CRC list prices by up to INR 2,500/t ($31/t) for May'23

Tier-I steel producer- JSW Steel has reduced its list prices for hot-rolled coils (HRC) by INR 2,000/tonne (t) ($24/t) m-o-m for early May 2023 sales. While those of cold-rolled coils (CRC) were cut by INR 2,500/t ($31/t) m-o-m. Other major mills are likely to follow suit.

Weakening prices and demand in domestic and overseas markets were among the key reasons. Raw material prices have also declined amid recessionary concerns and elevated price levels.

Factors impacting the pricing decision for May sales:

1) Import turn viable: The weakening of global HRC prices has made imports a feasible choice for Indian buyers towards end-April. A few import deals from Japan at $700/t CFR India and from Vietnam at $665/t CFR were heard booked in April for May or early June shipments.

The landed cost of HRC imports from countries with Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on a monthly average basis dropped from INR 62,200/t ($756/t) exy-Mumbai in March to INR 60,900/t ($743/t) exy-Mumbai in April. As per current import negotiations, the same is getting computed at around INR 56,000/t (approx. $683/t) exy-Mumbai.

HRC/plate import volumes were around 194,455 t in April, down from 279,019 t in March. A lion's share of imports has come from South Korea (118,938 t), followed by Japan (37,721 t) in April. China accounted for 25,352 t with the balance coming from Vietnam, as per the bulk shipment data maintained with SteelMint.

2) Export volumes drop in Apr'23: Exports of HRC/plates from India have dropped to 401,067 t in April as compared with 467,067 t in March, as per the bulk shipment data maintained with SteelMint. Furthermore, in Jan-Feb CY'23, the volume aggregated to 1.57 million tonnes (mnt), down by 34% against 2.38 mnt in the year-ago period.

The availability of cheaper alternatives in the Middle East (ME), recessionary concerns in the European Union (EU), and pending deliveries of previous bookings in Nepal led to a decline in trade activities in these regions. Vietnam, one of the key export markets for Indian manufacturers had reduced its domestic HRC prices for May and early-June sales last month. Also, Vietnam is now offering HRC for exports to India considering a slow in home market demand.

Furthermore, China's HRC (SS400) export offers, on a monthly average basis have dropped by around $40/t m-o-m in April.

3. Need-based buying in traders' market in April: India's domestic traders' market prices weighed under the cautious buying approach of end-industrial buyers in April. "Buyers had been scouting for materials at cheaper levels compared with the mills' list prices in April. This along with the increasing viability of imports weighed on the traders' market prices during the month," said a Western India-based major distributor.

Buyers from Mirco, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) continued to make cautious procurement and avoided buying in bulk to reduce any losses anticipating a decline in prices, informed another distributor source.

Moreover, India's manufacturing PMI continued growing at a slower pace of 57.2 in April as compared with 56.4 in March and 55.3 in February. Export orders during these months played a major role in elevating the index however, the domestic trade market grappled with the lackluster demand.

On a monthly average basis, SteelMint benchmark assessment for HRC (IS2062, Gr E250, 2.5-8mm) dropped to 59,900/t ($732/t) exy-Mumbai in April as against INR 60,300/t ($737/t) exy-Mumbai a month ago. This has further dropped to INR 59,000/t ($721/t) exy-Mumbai per the last assessment on 2 May'23.

Similarly, the monthly average CRC (IS513, Gr-O, 0.9mm) price dropped to INR 64,200/t ($785/t) exy-Mumbai in April compared with INR 64,800/t ($792/t) exy-Mumbai in the preceding month. The prices on 2 May'23 were assessed further low at INR 63,200/t ($773/t) exy-Mumbai. The prices mentioned above are exclusive of GST at 18%. (INR 1 = USD 0.0122279 ; USD 1 = INR 81.7804)

Metallurgy is a domain of metallic elements physical and chemical behavior and a whole, it is technology of metals that is applied to practical use. There are various types in this metallurgy process that are applied at various stages or purposes.

Extractive metallurgy is the practice of removing or separating valuable metals from an ore and refining the extracted raw metals into a pure form. In order to convert a metal oxide or sulfide to a purer metal, the ore must be reduced physically, chemically, or electrolytically. After mining, large pieces of the ore are broken by crushing and/or grinding in order to obtain particles small enough where each particle is either mostly valuable or mostly waste.

Hence, Extractive Metallurgy

• Deals with the fundamentals of thermodynamics and kinetics of the reaction processes
• Focuses on pyrometallurgical, hydrometallurgical, halide and electro-metallurgical (conversion) processes
• Deals with the industrial processing operations, technologies, and process routes.

Pyrometallurgy is a branch of extractive metallurgy that consists of the thermal treatment of minerals and metallurgical ores and focuses to bring physical and chemical transformations in the materials to enable recovery of valuable metals. This method of treatment may produce saleable products such as pure metals, or intermediate compounds or alloys, suitable as feed for further processing. Pyrometallurgy is the treatment of ores at high temperature to convert ore minerals to raw metals, or intermediate compounds for further refining. Roasting, smelting and converting are the most common pyrometallurgical processes.

The pyrometallurgical processes require energy input to sustain the temperatures during the process. This energy is usually provided in the form of fossil fuel combustion, exothermic reaction of the material, or from electrical heat.

Hydrometallurgy involves the use of aqueous solutions to extract metals or compounds from their ores. Some of the hydrometallurgical processes include leaching, precipitation of insoluble compounds, pressure reduction.

In the recent trends of metallurgy didn't remain not only as a process at the metal industries, but also an area of business and consultation.

Metallurgy Testing, Analysis and Consulting Services

Intertek metallurgical expertise has applications and services those serve a wide range of client needs. The state-of-the-art analysis, consulting, and on-site metallurgical investigations are equipped by Intertek to meet challenging customer needs. The metallurgy analysis and testing services include chemical, mechanical, micro/macro, destructive and non-destructive testing for a wide range of metal materials or products. Intertek metallurgical and analytical laboratories has expertise in failure analysis of fracture, creep, fatigue, wear, deformation, contamination, corrosion control, materials evaluation & development, and more. The Intertek's metallurgical laboratory clients benefit from its expertise in various applications in general manufacturing, consumer products, energy, transportation and marine and many other industries.

Metallurgy in Production Engineering

Metallurgy in production engineering is concerned with the production of metallic components that are used in consumer or engineering products. So, this involves the production of alloys, their shaping, heat treatment and the surface treatment of the product. While, the process involves metallurgist balance between material properties such as cost, weight, strength, toughness, hardness, corrosion, fatigue resistance, and performance in temperature extremes, because in saltwater environment, ferrous metals and some aluminium alloys corrode quickly.

Secondary Metallurgy

Danieli is one of the global suppliers of installations and equipment for the global metals industry. The company is known for its competitive equipment, simplify layouts and maximize the use of automation. The secondary metallurgy units for heat sizes from 20 to 350 t provide optimized meltshop sequences, reduce costs, and ensure the highest quality standard even with the most complicated steel grades. Ladle furnaces feature inert roof with controlled atmosphere and swing-roof for two treatment positions. VD/VOD degassing systems -in single or twin-tank configuration- feature combined steam ejector / water ring or full-steam ejector pumps. Oxygen lances are provided for deep decarburization of ULC and stainless steels, with reduced metal losses. Danieli also has process control software for electric steelworks, secondary metallurgy and continuous casting. Hence, the company is active in the secondary metallurgy plant sector, supplying furnaces and continuous casting machines and, in addition, designing, manufacturing and selling induction hardening plants for heat treatment in general, together with other plant in the "out of furnace" area.

Metallurgical machinery needs many other spare parts and equipment. This market is another wide scope for the existing and new players in the industry. The secondary metallurgy equipment ensures that the exact temperature and precise chemical composition of the steel are attained. Few of the major products of metallurgical Industry are

• Foundry, Casting and Forging Devices
• Minerals Exploration Equipments
• Wires, Tubes and Pipes
• Power and Hardware Tools
• Refractories, Chemicals, Additives
• Metal Working Devices
• Safety and Rescue Equipments

SMS group's state-of-the-art concast process technologies are combined with durable components. The design and process control of the ladle furnaces are executed with long electrode service lives in mind. For steel mill operators this means increased output with minimal operating costs. SMS Concast builds ladle furnaces as a single or double ladle station with a turret or carousel layout. The vacuum degassing plants produce liquid steel of the highest purity. The sulfur, hydrogen, nitrogen and oxygen content in the melt are significantly reduced. SMS Concast plants attain high efficiency levels here. The process of producing stainless steel involves the melt in the vacuum oxygen decarburization system is subjected to secondary metallurgical processes.

Recent period India turned one of the largest metallurgical industries in the world and the credit goes for the several existing Iron and Steel factories in India and its massive iron ore deposits. The Indian industry has performed really well and provided an impetus to the global market and can be said to be the founder of World Metallurgical Industry.

GECE AUTOMATIC SLIDING GATE

A Sliding gate is a type of gate which opens horizontally by sliding, usually parallel to a wall. Sliding gates can be mounted either on top of a track below or be suspended from a track above and some types 'disappear' in a wall when slid open. There are several types of sliding gate such as Normal Sliding gate, Telescopic Sliding gate, Retractable Sliding gate, Cantilever Sliding Gate, etc.

GECE offers a complete range of automation systems for sliding gates up to 3000 kg in weight. Designed to last, and resistant to even the harshest of weather, they combine unequalled strength with a modern and elegant design.

THE AUTOMATION SYSTEM DESIGNED TO LAST

GECE Cross30 is the automation system for sliding gates up to 20 m wide, weighing up to 3000 kg.
The ideal solution for round-the-clock operation. The three-phase motor has built-in magnetic limit switches and control panel.

RELIABLE and STURDY

• steel worm screw; cemented, tempered and adjusted with a bronze crown 
• high-reliability control panels with sturdy contacts 
• irreversible geared motor to avoid installation of electro-mechanical locks
• Safety-Test function
• electric brake and electronic clutch 
• sturdy lever-release devices, easy to access when the inspection door is open
• inspection window  to ensure only
• vertical levelling screws (additional adjustment spacers included in the package).

POWERFUL

Three-phase electronics 400 V guarantee maximum performance even under adverse conditions, thanks to greater dynamic thrust during the initial phase of operation.

Driveway gate openers can be the rollback (sliding) type that retracks a gate along the fence or wall on wheels or bearing, or the swing type that draws the gate open or closed on hinges. The most popular electric gates for residential properties are swing gates.

Industrial Overhead Sectional Doors 

Mostly widely used doors in all indsutrial buidlings like factory or warehouse. Thermal insulated, fast speed, high frequency running, low maintenance.

Fast opening and closing: Running speed comparation:

    Sectional door: 0.3m/s; 

Traditonal roller shutter door: 0.06-0.08m/s;

So, sectional doors are four times the speed of a tradtional roller shutter door.  It opens and closed much faster. This bring several big benefits:

• Improve work efficiency:  Workers or forklifts will no need wait long time in front of the door. The material handling speed is higher by at least 3 times than tradional roll up doors;

• Keep clean and hygiene: The fast running reduces the open time to only seconds in a cycle of passing the door. Thus much less outside air and dust will enter the room;

• Keep temperature: Heat loss is reduced by large by reducing open time.

High frequency working: There is torsion spring balance system around the drive rod. After spring tightened, it can balance the weight of the door body and reduce the load weight of the motor. So its drive motor is always in a light-load work state. This is the reason why such doors can work continually. No need worry its motor will overload and get burnt. 

Max work frequency: 800 open-close cycles per day. 

Thermal insulated: Door panel is sandwich structure. Total thickness: 40mm. Two surface layer is 0.326mm galvanized steel plate. Middle is filled with high density fire ratardant polyurethane     foam. Foam Density: 12---14kg/m2. At the joint area, there is a special cold-bridge design, to avoid direct heat conduction through surface steel sheet. 

Thermal insulation ratio:   4.5W/m. h. For this reason, such door is widely seen in cold rooms and warehouses. 

High air-tightness: All-around of the door is covered with EPDM weather seal rubber. Such rubber can resist cold and chemical. It can keep in good shape after years.  This guarantee the high air-tightness of the whole door. It will prevent outside air and dust entering the room, and keep inside clean and hygiene. 

Flexible design to fit all project sites: The door can climb up in different ways to fit specific site situation.   

• Standard lift: For limited top space, the door will turn to the ceiling directly;

• High lift:  The door can climb up the wall for some distance and then turn to the ceiling; 

• Vertical lift: If the ceiling is high enough, the best way is to climb up complete to the top. 

Optional Parts: You can select clear windows or man doors for your sectional door

• Clear Window: People can see what is happening at another side of the door through it. This can improve safety at work place.

• Man door: Fit for big size doors with a lot workers passing. This can reduce the use of whole sectional door and improve its worklife.

Fire Rated Roller Shutter: fire rated 2 hour or 3 hour, installed at fire-isolation area.

The shutter can be controlled by the fire control center, and it can also be equipped with sensors like smoke sensor or temperature sensor directly. When there is fire accident, the door can receive the fire accident signal and automatically close to prevent spreading of fire. 

It is used in fire compartment or escape passage of factories, commercial buildings, and supermarkets. Made from special fireproof material, it can prevent spreading of fire and protect life and property.

Grade B:   Single Skin Steel Fire Roller Shutter Door, fire rating 2 hour Single layer galvanized steel slats. The thickness reaches 1.0mm or 1.2mm thick. Single layer galvanized steel slats. The thickness reaches 1.0mm or 1.2mm thick. 

Grade A:   Double Skin Steel Fire Roller Shutter Door, fire rating 3 hour Double layer galvanized steel slats, filled with fireproof silicate rock wool. The wool has excellent thermal-stability, and can resist 1200 ?. And it can prevent both fire and heat spreading.

(Grade A+): Double Layer Curtain Fire Roller Shutter Door, fire rating 3 hours The door panel consists of two separate curtains, with 300mm space between them.

Standard operation method: Control button box, with Up, Down and Stop buttons;

Optional operation methods: Smoke sonsor, Temperature sensor, Remote control, Fire linkage by fire control panel.

According to international fire protection standard, fire roller shutter door is classified into three types according to its fire rated time, namely Grade B, Grade A and Grade A+ 

Electro-hydraulically power operated, security bollards come in single or multiple units with a common drive unit. The standard blocking height above surface level ranges between 600 mm to 850 mm. Aesthetically designed in different shapes and colours, this range of security bollards is ideal for pedestrian zones in the city, fuel pumps as well as for security purposes in front of important buildings. 

Features: 

Electro-hydraulically power operated bollards

Single or multiple units in row with one common drive unit

Standard blocking height above surface level 600mm to 850mm

Different shapes and design of the raising element

Areas of application of security bollards are pedestrian zones in city centers, fuel stations or for security purposes in front of prestigious buildings.

GECE designed hydraulic bollards of SS304 material with best finish and most important feature is 01 control unit can control up to 08 bollards at a time with different operations. Our Bollards can be integrated with Loop metal detector, Photocells, Readers and also can be operated with a remote controller.

Road Blocker is an electro hydraulically operated rising step obstruction which rises above the ground level on giving a valid input signal and thus prevents unauthorized intrusions at entry/exit points of high security (Z+) premises. When in lowered position the vehicles can pass through, thereby providing a good enhanced security blockage system. The housing and the blocking element of the Road Blocker are designed in full core steel profile construction with TESCON 4S coating, ensuring maximum safety against corrosion. The impact face of these road barrier is reinforced with steel ribs and impact plates to transfer mechanical forces to reinforced concrete foundation. 
 

Technology

The road blocker is operated by high speed hydraulic cylinders. A power pack containing an electric motor – pump assembly and an accumulator/handle for manual operation (in case of power failure) is installed upto a distance of 20 meters from the road barrier in a all weatherproof lockable steel casing on a concrete base. The operation time for moving the blocker up & down can be from 2 to 6 seconds.

Spike Tyre Killer is an Electro-Hydraulically operated heavy duty spike barrier which rises above the ground level on giving a valid input signal and thus prevents unauthorized intrusions at entry/exit points of high security premises.
When the tyre killer is in a lowered position the vehicles can pass through, thereby providing a good enhanced security blockage system. 

The housing and the blocking element of the Tyre Killer are designed in full core steel profile construction with TESCON 4S Coating, ensuring maximum safety against corrosion. The impact face of the Tyre Killer is impact resisting thick, sharp steel spikes to puncture the tyre and in fact are strong enough to break the axle of the vehicle. It transfers mechanical forces to reinforced concrete 

TECHNOLOGY 
The tyre killer is operated by high speed hydraulic cylinders. A power pack containing an electric motor – pump assembly and an accumulator/handle for manual operation(in case of power failure) is installed up to a distance of 20 meters from the tyre killer in an all weatherproof lockable steel casing on a concrete base. 

The operation time for up & down movement of the tyre killer varies from 2-6 seconds.

GECE Offers wide range of Tyre killers Hydraulic and Electromechanical operation suitable for all application areas. Sizes are completely customised and designed in Flat and Hump type shape.