Chelyabinsk Zinc Plant: History, Production

Chelyabinsk Zinc Plant is the largest zinc producer in the Russian Federation. Its share in the domestic market is about 62%. In 2016, control of the company's shares moved to the Urals Mining and Metallurgical Company.

Description

CZP is a vertically oriented production, implying a full cycle of manufacturing non-ferrous metals - from mining and processing of ore raw materials to obtaining finished products. The plant is equipped with modern equipment (the best in Europe), which makes it possible to produce refined zinc of the highest quality with a purity of 99.995%.

On the London Stock Exchange, this metal is sold under its own brand Chelyabinsk zinc plant Special High Grade. In Russia, more than half of the refined zinc and its alloys are produced by the Chelyabinsk Zinc Plant. Address: Chelyabinsk, Chelyabinsk, Sverdlovsk tract, 454008.

Construction of the enterprise

In the early 1930s, the Soviet government launched a large-scale industrialization program for the Urals. In Chelyabinsk it was planned to build more than a dozen productions. One of the priority projects was the construction of a zinc smelter. In the autumn of 1930, the foundations of the plant management, workshops, locomotive and fire depots were laid. The construction was difficult. There was not enough funding, sensible staff, builders. Contractors violated the terms of delivery. Only the intervention of USSR People's Commissar Sergo Ordzhonikidze made it possible to speed up the construction of the plant.

The enterprise, called the Chelyabinsk electrolytic zinc plant, was launched only five years later (July 14, 1935), although it was originally planned to put it into operation in October 1932.

Work days

The role of the company has increased significantly during the Second World War. Zinc and its derivatives were used to make ammunition. Most of the men's team was mobilized, mostly women worked in the shops. CZP quarterly exceeded its plans. Many factory workers are noted by state regalia.

The post-war construction boom required more and more galvanized steel structures. The Chelyabinsk Zinc Plant has expanded its production base while improving the quality of raw materials and productivity. General reconstruction occurred in the mid-50's. The equipment was updated, working conditions improved, and the ecological situation improved. In the 60's the capacities were increased to 70,000 tons per year. The second large-scale reconstruction was carried out in the late 80's. After the collapse of the USSR, the enterprise was corporatized.

Production

Chelyabinsk Zinc Plant produces the highest quality metal under the brand "especially high-quality zinc" (SHG), which is confirmed by the certificate of the London Stock Exchange. A significant share in the volume of production is occupied by alloys and rare metals.

The assortment consists of:

• Zinc refined with the minimum content of impurities (99.995%);
• Zinc-nickel-aluminum alloys;
• Zinc sulphate ;
• Zinc-aluminum alloys;
• Casting zinc alloys of CAM 4-1 brand;
• Cadmium;
• Indium metal;
• Sulfuric acid.

Partners

Chelyabinsk Zinc Plant is one of the few suppliers of non-ferrous and rare-earth metals on the Russian market. The largest consumer of zinc is ferrous metallurgy, which uses metal in the production of galvanized steel. In particular, the main buyers of CZP products are the Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works, a joint venture of Severstal and Arcelor's galvanizing companies, as well as Novolipetsk Steel and Kashirsky coated steel plant. These companies account for over 90% of sales.

Some of the products are consumed by enterprises that produce rolled products of brass and bronze alloys. Among them, Kirov, Moscow, Revdinsky and Kolchuginsky plants for the processing of non-ferrous metals. In recent years, a significant share of CZP's products has been exported. As expected, demand for zinc will continue to grow in Russia, especially from the construction segment, which is why metallurgists have stepped up their projects on the production of galvanized steel.

Development

Chelyabinsk Zinc Plant is constantly being modernized. Only in 2006-2009, investments in the development of production exceeded $ 70 million. At CZP, a project for the construction of a Waelz furnace No. 5 was implemented. The new furnace allowed the processing of secondary materials containing zinc. This reduced the company's dependence on the suppliers of zinc concentrate and increased production by 25,000 to 30,000 tons of zinc per year.

In 2011, the Chelyabinsk plant received 160,000 tons of metal zinc and its alloys (about 63% of Russian production). In 2016 - already 174803 tons of commercial zinc SHG-quality. Net profit amounted to more than 4 billion rubles. In 2015, CZP produced a jubilee 8 million tons of valuable metal for the whole time of its work.

Competitive advantages

CZP has the following competitive advantages:

• It is the leader in the volume of zinc production and revenues from its sale in the Russian Federation. The share of metal produced under the SHG brand is about 96% in the Russian Federation.
• The company has long-term relationships with its main customers, mainly in the Russian steel industry.
• The plant produces a wide range of highly profitable zinc alloys based on the SHG brand, which has special properties due to the high degree of purification.

To reduce operating costs, CZP invested in modern technology and implemented cost control measures at its production facilities. For example, in 2005 the plant was able to process approximately 24,000 tons of secondary materials and materials of lower quality, which is 300 more than in 2000. In addition, since production is located in the Russian Federation, CZP also has access to a lower-paid labor force, cheaper electricity and transport, compared to some of its international competitors.

Chelyabinsk Zinc Plant: contacts

The enterprise has a developed administrative structure, which allows maintaining old ones and establishing new ties. Personnel policy is aimed at rejuvenating the work collective. Telephone numbers of the company can be found on its official website.