Hyundai Steel has completed a modernization of its continuous annealing and galvanizing line, integrating induction heating, rapid cooling, and thermal process controls to increase production of ultra-high-strength Gen3 steel for automotive applications.
The steelmaker contracted Fives, an international engineering group and thermal processing equipment supplier, to modernize the combined continuous annealing and galvanizing line (CVGL) at its No. 2 cold rolling mill in Dangjin, South Korea. The companies are also working together in North America, where Gives is supplying advanced coil finishing lines for Hundai-POSCO Louisiana Steel’s new 2.7-million-metric-ton-per-year automotive steel facility in Louisiana.
The Dangjin modernization focused on three areas: replacing the cooling section, integrating induction technology, and optimizing thermal control. The upgraded line incorporates Fives’ Dry FlashCooling technology operating with 75% hydrogen, including a recirculation system designed to reduce hydrogen and nitrogen consumption.
A 4 MW CELES induction system was installed to provide rapid and uniform heating. The modernization also incorporated Fives’ Virtuo-L digital system for thermal process control tailored to Gen3 steel production.
The new cooling system provides temperature uniformity across the width of the steel strip within ±5°C (±9°F), including at high blowing speeds. The Virtuo-L system controls process parameters in both annealing and galvanizing modes.
After one year of operation, Fives reported 100% use of automatic speed control and 95% strip temperature accuracy. According to the supplier, heating control performance improved by 2% and cooling control performance by 1% compared iwth the previously installed system.
Press release is available in its original form here.
