Solikamsk Magnesium Plant (SMZ) has introduced innovative equipment for the production of titanium sponge. The development, created in collaboration with RITM, is already in operation and is changing the process itself — fewer downtimes, higher stability, and almost zero manual operations.
The key component is a new retort for vacuum separation. Its body is made in the shape of a truncated cone to evenly distribute loads and reduce deformation. This allows the equipment to be used longer without stops and to maintain stable tightness in the cycle.
The main change is the automation of unloading. If previously the titanium block was knocked out manually, now the system does it itself.
In parallel, engineers strengthened the heat shield, added stiffening ribs, and redesigned the thermal insulation. This eliminated overheating and extended the service life of the components. Additionally, digital monitoring was introduced, which tracks wear and tear and warns about repairs in advance.