The Business Bytes
THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU
ROURKELA, MAY 5, 2025
In a remarkable display of operational excellence, the Steel Melting Shop-I (SMS-I) of Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) has etched its name into the record books by executing the longest-ever sequence of heats in its Continuous Casting Machine-I. On April 30, 2025, SMS-I achieved a new milestone by completing 31 successive heats, surpassing its previous best of 30 heats set on July 1, 2023.
This achievement reflects the unwavering commitment, precision, and teamwork of the SMS-I crew, steered by Nilamani Mohapatra, GM (Operation), under the strategic guidance of B. Sunil Kartha, CGM (SMS-I). The feat was made possible through synchronized efforts across multiple departments, including PPC, Blast Furnace, Crane Maintenance, and Traffic & Raw Materials.
The casting operation commenced at 6:50 a.m. on April 29 and concluded at 10:15 a.m. the following day, spanning an impressive 27 hours and 20 minutes of uninterrupted production. In this period, the shop cast 2,128 tonnes of premium-quality steel slabs, each measuring 1050 mm in width and 210 mm in thickness, achieving a total cast length of 1.25 kilometers.
Commissioned in the early 1960s, SMS-I was among the forerunners of LD steelmaking technology in India. Over the decades, it has remained a cornerstone of innovation and productivity, significantly contributing to the nation’s strategic sectors, including defence.
