URALS HEAVY MACHINE BUILDING Vs. DESIGNATED AUTHORITY/MINISTRY

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE appellant Urals Heavy Machine Building Plant, JSC, an exporter from Russia has preferred this appeal against the Final Findings dated 2.7.2003 of the designated authority and the Notification No. 127/03 dated 14.8.03 imposing anti -dumping duty under Section 9A(1) of the Customs Tariff Act, 1975, read with rules 18 and 20 of the Customs Tariff (Identification, Assessment and Collection of Anti -dumping Duty on Dumped Articles and for Determination of Injury) Rules, 1995, on "induction hardened forged steel rolls" of the sizes above 300 mm and up to 605 mm diameter covered under Tariff Item 8455.30.00 of schedule to the Customs Tariff Act, 1975, imported into India from Russia, at the rate equal to the difference between the amount of US 2762.79 PMT and the landed value of the goods, w.e.f. 1.1.2003 being the date from which the provisional anti -dumping duty was earlier imposed.

(2.) ON receiving an application from M/s. Gontermann -Peipers (India) for and on behalf of domestic industry, alleging dumping of induction hardened forged steel rolls originating in or exported from Russia, Ukraine and Korea RP and on being satisfied about the eligibility of the petitioner ho was supported by the other domestic producer M/s. Heavy Engineering Corporation, Ranchi, the designated authority initiated anti -dumping duty investigation by a public notice dated 27th August 2002. The designated authority sent questionnaire to elicit relevant information to the known exporters/producers in accordance with rule 6(4) including the appellant. A questionnaire was also sent to the 17 known exporters/users association in accordance with rule 6(4).

(3.) THE product in question is used primarily by steel plants for cold rolling of ferrous and non -ferrous coils obtained from Hot Rolling Mills. These cold rolled coils with fine texture, thin gauges with superior mechanical properties are used as roof sheet for buildings and by equipment manufacturers for car biddies, scooters, buses, autos, fridges, washing machines, utensils, cigarette foils and bicycles etc. Forged rolls are basically made up of vacuum degassed alloy and forged under hydraulic press. Forging is done to remove the internal stress and also to refine grains during forging operations. The roll is then spheroidised to the desired microstructure and after machine it is induction hardened, tempered, subjected to final machining before despatch to customer.