Chief Technology Officer (CTO)
thyssenkrupp Steel Europe AG
thyssenkrupp Steel Europe AG, a global manufacturer in high-grade flat steel, has ordered a walking beam furnace. The furnace is designed for heating slabs and will be located at their plant in Duisburg, Germany. This furnace replaces an old reheating furnace. The scope of the contract includes engineering and the largely turnkey delivery of all equipment as well as the erection and commissioning including training.
The new furnace is designed to produce premium sheets, which will service the automotive industry. With a capacity of 380 t/h, it will be integrated in the existing hot rolling mill infrastructure. Additionally, it will be used for heating slabs made of alloyed or unalloyed steel and charged in one and/or two rows. Finally, the furnace features a combustion air pre-heating system to significantly reduce the energy consumption of the overall production. In the long term, it will assist the thyssenkrupp group with achieving their climate related emissions targets.
“The new plant [read: furnace] is scheduled to start operating in mid-2022,” commented Dr. Arnd Köfler, Chief Technology Officer at thyssenkrupp Steel.
Further, “The new plant [read: furnace] will ensure the high surface quality requirements of the automotive industry,” said Antonio Catalano, Executive Vice President of the Tenova Downstream BU, “and support our customer’s forward strategy.”
Tenova, with the companies Tenova LOI Thermprocess and Tenova Italimpianti involved in the project, will design and supply the entire walking beam furnace plant including the charging roller table and the charging machine as well as the related electrical, measuring and control systems. In addition, a sophisticated automation system developed by Tenova LOI Thermprocess will enhance the control and energy efficiency of the furnace.
The production start of the walking beam furnace is scheduled for July 2022.
