Mizushima Ferroalloy to Convert Ferromanganese Smelting Furnace

Mizushima Ferroalloy, Japanese major ferroalloy maker of JFE Group, announced on Monday the firm introduces an upright smelting furnace for ferromanganese with investment at around 11 billion yen and convert the operation from the existent furnace. The construction will start in January 2011 and the operation will commence in October 2012. The production capacity expands by around 13% to 158,000 tonnes per year. The firm meets increasing demand for ferromanganese and aims continuous operation at over 30 years, the world longest life-span.

The new furnace’s inner capacity is 450 cubic meters, increasing from 400 cubic meters of the existent furnace. The firm expands production of high carbon ferromanganese from present 140,000 tonnes per year and meets increasing demand from integrated steel makers including JFE Steel and electric furnace steel makers.

The existing furnace started operation in June 1985. The life span will reach 27 years and 4 months before the suspension, as long as Sumitomo Metal Industries’ no.4 blast furnace in Wakayama iron works.