Profile: SMS Mevac UK Ltd. specializes in providing metallurgical equipment. The vacuum oxygen de-carburization process was developed specifically for the production of stainless steel. The blowing of oxygen under vacuum conditions together with the use of low cost ferro-alloys offers a time and cost saving method of producing stainless, corrosion, and heat resisting steel grades. The ladle of liquid stainless steel is placed in a vacuum tank by the overhead crane. The ladle is stirred using inert gas through a porous plug. Once the cover is placed on the vacuum tank, the vacuum tank is evacuated by a set of powerful vacuum pumps connected to the tank. The vacuum oxygen de-carburization process therefore allows the use of high carbon ferro-chromium in the furnace charge, as opposed to the more expensive low carbon ferro-chromium.