Zaporizhstal's rolling mill workers have always keep their standards high – high quality of rolled products, discipline in order fulfilment, and expansion of the product range. And during the full-scale war, the staff of the Cold Rolling Shop, like all the plant's divisions, concentrated all their efforts to maintain production.
Today, the division employs 847 people. The shop's team is characterised by an atmosphere of support and mutual assistance, as well as respect for the veterans of the rolling shop.
“Among us there are young rolling mill operators who are just starting their career in metallurgy, and experienced operators who have devoted many decades to the plant and new generations. Of course, we are all very different – no two people are alike in nature – but we are all united by our love for our work and our desire to support the country in its struggle for the right to live and develop,” said Sergii PIDGORODETSKYI, Deputy Head of the Shop for Technology and Quality.
The Cold Rolling Shop has a state-of-the-art CPL-4 production line (continuous picking line), the only one in Ukraine built in accordance with European environmental standards. To ensure that the modern, environmentally friendly equipment always operates at peak performance, the shop closely monitors its technical condition and carries out timely maintenance. In particular, this winter, CPL-4 was equipped with new pickling tanks to remove scale from thin rolled products.
“The continuous pickling unit and hydrochloric acid regeneration plant operate in such a way that the acid does not cause any harmful vapour emissions or discharges, the solutions are circulated in a closed system and returned to production again and again. That is why this equipment meets stringent environmental standards, as it has no impact on the environment,” said Maksym BORENKOV, pickler at CPL-4 in the Cold Rolling Shop.
In the pre-war period, up to 4,000 tonnes of finished rolled steel were shipped daily to the Cold Rolling Mill. Today, due to incomplete capacity utilisation, about 2.8 thousand tonnes of rolled products are produced.
“Over the past two years, we have worked together to overcome many wartime challenges, such as hot mothballing of equipment, blackouts and restrictions on electricity consumption during the occupiers' attacks on Ukraine's power system. Some of our employees are currently defending their homeland on the military front, and we are proud of them and support them in every way possible. Our specialists are working day and night to ensure that Zaporizhstal rolled products are shipped to consumers around the world, even in times of war, as this ensures foreign exchange earnings for the country's economy and budget revenues. At work and at the frontline, our people are united, and we do our best for a common goal – Victory. I thank each and every one of them for their efforts and dedication. Congratulations on the 85th anniversary of the shop!”, says Oleksandr TYSHCHENKO, Head of the Cold Rolling Shop.
Today, 148 employees of the shop are defending Ukraine and Ukrainians on the military front. However, everyone in the structural unit is looking forward to the return of their fellow defenders to their plant.
“While they are defending the country, we are working and supporting the economy, the enterprise and our defenders,” said Eduard ZHDAN, operator of the Tandem mill's main operating station in the Cold Rolling Shop. “I sincerely wish all of us peace in the country and stable work.”
