Rourkela: An enterprising endeavour of the structural and fabrication shop collective of SAIL's Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) has brought substantial savings for the company. The department has successfully fabricated a scrap charging box of 32 tons capacity for Steel Melting Shop – II (SMS-II) department using in-house resources and expertise. Notably, the purchase of a new scrap box would have cost the company around Rs 40 lakhs.

The 9 meter long, 3meter wide, 3 meter high and weighing about 30 tons, the scrap boxes are used for collecting scrap from the scrap yard, thereafter transporting and charging of scrap into the LD converters of SMS-II department.

Notably, the existing scrap charging boxes were getting damaged and needing frequent repairs due to prolonged use. There was an urgent requirement to replace two such boxes. The structural and fabrication shop team under the guidance of General Manager (Structural & Fabrication Shop) SC Sabat took up the challenge to develop the scrap boxes using in-house resources as a cost-saving project.

The detailed methodology for fabrication of the large 32-ton capacity box was chalked out and fabrication of the first box was completed successfully using in-house resources and expertise. The job consisted of developing and assembling half-cylindrical shell, brackets, trunion pins, tilting pin, liner plates and concrete box as the counterweight.

All the activities like cutting of plates, bending, fabrication and machining were done in-house. Machining of the pins and bracket plates was done by the Mechanical Shop department. The job was completed in the shortest possible time of 3 months.

The effort has not only boosted the morale of the team but also enhanced the equipment availability in SMS-II.

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