Primetals Technologies

News from Abroad: Furnace Upgrades, Aluminum Smelters, and Steel-line Expansions

/ HEAT TREAT NEWS

In today’s News from Abroad installment, we highlight several major global developments — from digital furnace upgrades at a steel producer to new aluminum smelter plans and modernization projects at rolling mills and galvanizing lines.

Heat Treat Today partners with two international publications to deliver the latest news, tech tips, and cutting-edge articles that will serve our audience — manufacturers with in-house heat treat. Furnaces International, a Quartz Business Media publication, primarily serves the English-speaking globe, and heat processing, a Vulkan-Verlag GmbH publication, serves mostly the European and Asian heat treat markets.

Digital Upgrade to Strengthen Furnace Control at SSAB’s Finnish Site

The modernisation will be rolled out over a twelve-month period without interrupting production.

“SSAB has selected Fives to modernise the control system of the reheating furnaces at its Raahe site in Finland…SSAB will implement the latest-generation Level 2 control system. The thermal optimiser, Virtuo-R, proposed by Fives, will automate furnace control with precise regulation, significantly reducing manual intervention and ensuring consistent results.”

“Smart Monitoring…will consolidate operational data…through intuitive dashboards. The system will provide real-time performance indicators, enable proactive process and quality monitoring, detect anomalies, and anticipate maintenance needs to enhance both performance and reliability.”

Read more: “Fives Digital Technology to Upgrade SSAB’s Furnace Control” at furnaces-international.com.

Ambitious Aluminum Smelter Project in Ethiopia

With an expected projected timeline of three to four years, the completed plant is expected to operate for up to 50 years.

“RUSAL has signed a memorandum of understanding with Ethiopian Investment Holdings (EIH) to initiate a large-scale aluminium smelter plant in Ethiopia. The facility is estimated to have an annual production capacity of 500,000 Mt, positioning Ethiopia as a competitive supplier for both regional and global markets. The project is designed to meet growing domestic demand, support industrial development, and significantly reduce foreign currency outflows currently spent on aluminium imports.”

Read more: “RUSAL’s Ethiopian Smelter Project” at furnaces-international.com.

Hot-Mill Modernization Boosts Aluminum Processing Capacity

Manufacturing the gearbox in SMS group’s workshop. Source: SMS Group

“For Gulf Aluminium Rolling Mill B.S.C. (GARMCO), a leading aluminum producer based in Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain, SMS group has successfully upgraded the motors and drives in the one-stand reversing hot rolling mill, originally built by a third-party rolling mill supplier…The novel drive system, built to deliver 20 percent higher torque compared to the mill’s original design capacity, has restored GARMCO’s hot rolling mill to full operational capacity and positioned it as a future-ready facility capable of advancing research and development in aluminum hot rolling.”

“The equipment is tailored to meet the rigorous demands of GARMCO’s operations, which include the production of aluminum coils, tread plates, slit coils, and foils for diverse industrial applications such as packaging and heat exchange systems.”

Read more: “SMS Group Expands Aluminum Processing at GARMCO Through Modernization of the Hot Rolling Mill” at heat processing.

New Hot-Dip Galvanizing Line for Ultra-High-Tensile Steel

Bird’s-eye view of the JFE Steel West Japan Works in the Fukuyama district. Source: Primetals Technologies

“Japanese leading steel producer JFE Steel Corporation has placed an order with Primetals Technologies for a new continuous galvanizing line (CGL) at the West Japan Works in the Fukuyama district.

“With alloying capabilities, the new CGL is designed to support the automotive industry’s production of ultra-high-tensile steel sheets, which are crucial for reducing vehicle weight, meeting stricter environmental regulations, and enhancing collision safety standards.”

Read more: “Primetals Technologies Awarded Contract for Hot-Dip Galvanizing Line at JFE Steel” at heat processing.

News from Abroad: Furnace Upgrades, Aluminum Smelters, and Steel-line Expansions Read More »

News from Abroad: Mergers & Partnerships Ring in the New Year

/ HEAT TREAT NEWS, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT NEWS

Today’s News from Abroad installment highlights a new year ringing in acquisitions, partnerships and mergers resulting in increased production and expanded facilities. Read more about a heat treater developing capabilities for the advancement of vacuum heat treatment technologies, an international refractory manufacturer launching innovative operations, and a modernization project aiming to double annual production capacity.

Heat Treat Today partners with two international publications to deliver the latest news, tech tips, and cutting-edge articles that will serve our audience — manufacturers with in-house heat treat. Furnaces International, a Quartz Business Media publication, primarily serves the English-speaking globe, and heat-processing. a Vulkan-Verlag GmbHa publication, serves mostly the European and Asian heat treat markets.

Chinese Heat Treater Signs Agreement with ECM Technologies

M. Pelissier (left) of ECM Group & Mr. Wu (right) of Chun Yu Heat Treatment

“ECM Technologies, a subsidiary of the ECM Group, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Chinese heat treater Chun Yu, to open a Synergy Center in Shanghai. Shanghai Chun Yu Metal Heat Treatment, known as CYHT, is a customer of ECM Technologies. Geared with 3 different LPC systems from ECM Technologies, both companies agreed to cooperate on process development. CYHT is becoming the first demonstration center for ECM Technologies in China. This bilateral agreement will enable both parties to develop their activities in China around vacuum heat treatment technologies.”

READ MORE: “ECM Technologies Has Signed a MOU with the Chinese Heat Treater Shanghai Chun Yu Metal Heat Treatment Co. Ltd (CYHT)” at heat-processing.com. 

RATH Mönchengladbach Opens Production Plant in Germany

International refractory manufacturer RATH opens new production plant

“The international refractory manufacturer RATH has been developing continuous oxide ceramic fibers as part of the HORIZON EUROPE project InVECOF (Innovative Value Chains for European Ceramic Oxide Fibers) for several years. A production plant for the manufacture of innovative oxide ceramic fibers has now been commissioned at the RATH Mönchengladbach site (Germany). In mid-October 2024, the company officially launched production of the ALTRA FLEX® oxide ceramic continuous fibers in K99 and M75 qualities, making it the first European supplier to offer a solution for composite material manufacturers and manufacturers and processors of heat-resistant fabrics. The new production facility will initially produce up to 10 tons of fibers per year.”

READ MORE: “RATH Starts Up Production Plant for the Manufacture of Innovative Oxide Ceramic Continuous Fibers” – at heat-processing.com

Marcegaglia Stainless Sheffield Partners with Primetals Technologies

Marcegaglia to equip all the production units of the minimill meltshop in Sheffield with automation systems from Primetals Technologies

“UK-based Marcegaglia Stainless Sheffield has partnered with Primetals Technologies to optimize production processes at its processes at its Sheffield minimill. The modernization project aims to double the plant’s annual production capacity from annual production capacity from 250,000 to 500,000 tonnes. Several intralogistics systems, process optimization solutions, technology packages and intelligent sensor systems will be installed in all production units of the in all production units of the melt shop, scrap yard and ladle tracking system.”

READ MORE: “Marcegaglia’s Partnership with Primetals Technologies to Result in Significant Productivity Improvements“ at heat-processing.com

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News from Abroad: Growth Via Innovation

/ MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT NEWS

The growth we’re reporting on in today’s News from Abroad installment is not just about expansions but also modernization and innovation. Read about a continuous galvanizing and annealing line for a Turkish automaker, a new 190-ton EAF set to be one of the largest installations in the world, a next-generation anode furnace to meet sustainability targets, and for reducing CO2 emissions, improving impurity removal capabilities and bringing flexibility in treating secondary materials, and the installation and commissioning of new hot edge inductors for its cold mill rolling line (S5) to address the tight edge issues in aluminum strip that occurred during high-speed rolling.

Heat Treat Today partners with two international publications to deliver the latest news, tech tips, and cutting-edge articles that will serve our audience — manufacturers with in-house heat treat. Furnaces International, a Quartz Business Media publication, primarily serves the English-speaking globe, and heat processing. a Vulkan-Verlag GmbHa publication, serves mostly the European and Asian heat treat markets.

Turkish Auto Maker Expands with Continuous Galvanizing/Annealing Line

View of the Borçelik site

“Turkish steel manufacturer Borçelik has selected international technology group ANDRITZ to supply a combi-line furnace for a new continuous galvanizing and annealing line to produce automotive material. The line will be part of a new cold strip mill complex to be built in Bursa, Gemlik, region. It will supply hot-dip galvanized strip for automotive exposed panels as well as uncoated strip. Start-up at Borçelik is scheduled for the third quarter of 2026. The ANDRITZ scope of supply includes a radiant-tube furnace with annealing and soaking sections and a mixed soaking/slow cooling section followed by ANDRITZ Differential Rapid Jet Cooling.”

READ MORE: “ANDRITZ To Supply Combi-line Furnace to Borçelik, Türkiye” – at heat-processing.com.

Next-Gen Anode Furnace Targets Reduction in CO2 Emissions

Metso’s modernized Anode Furnace

“Metso is launching a next-generation Anode Furnace for reducing CO2 emissions, improving impurity removal capabilities and bringing flexibility in treating secondary materials. The upgraded Anode Furnace features the latest design, advances in process safety, and ease of maintenance. Furthermore, it presents two exciting methods for reducing CO2 emissions. The Anode Furnace delivery scope consists of all key equipment required for operating the furnace. Metso’s holistic competence in smelter process optimization and integration of automation systems ensures that the furnace will be seamlessly integrated into the processing chain in both brownfield and greenfield applications. When combined with services and on-site support, a smooth commissioning and start-up is ensured.”

READ MORE: “Metso Launches Modernized Anode Furnace With Improved Impurity Removal and Innovative Reductant Options To Reduce Emissions” at heatprocessing.com. 

190-Ton EAF Under Construction at SSAB

Oxelösund, where SSAB’s new 190-ton EAF will be installed

“Swedish steelmaker SSAB has chosen plant supplier SMS group for the construction of a new 190-ton EAF, which is set to be one of the largest installations in the world with an upper shell diameter of 9.3 metres. The new EAF, located in Oxelösund, has its first heat scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2026 and will lower total CO2 emissions in Sweden by 3%, say the companies. Powered by a 280 MVA transformer, the EAF will also utilize technology to meet the limitations imposed by the grid authority in terms of flicker, power factor, and harmonic distortion. SSAB has also entrusted SMS group with the integration of a direct feed (DF) system from GE Vernova to be fitted in the new furnace at Oxelösund. The technology aims to ensure the new EAF operates smoothly and efficiently without disrupting the grid, thereby contributing to the reduction of CO2 emissions.”

READ MORE: “SSAB contracts SMS group to build 190-ton EAF“ at furnaces-international.com.

Hot Edge Inductors for Cold Mill Rolling Line Installed

Hot edge inductors installed by Primetals Technologies at Hulamin’s cold mill rolling line (S5) in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa

“Primetals Technologies have signed the final acceptance certificate (FAC) with aluminum producer Hulamin following the installation and commissioning of new hot edge inductors for its cold mill rolling line (S5) in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. This upgrade aims to address the tight edge issues in aluminum strip that occurred during high-speed rolling, leading to improved product quality. The moving induction heating head assembly has been installed on the exit side of the mill, below the exit delivery table. These assemblies are positioned close to the roll surface, just outside of the strip width, effectively counteracting the thermal camber that causes tight edge issues during high-speed rolling. The hot edge inductors have resolved the tight edge issues by providing additional heat to the work roll at the strip edge, expanding the roll and alleviating tight edges. This has led to better control of the strip edge shape. The aluminum producer has observed noticeable improvements in the on-line strip shape performance and continue to further optimise and refine the use of these actuators in its rolling programme.”

READ MORE: “Implemented Hot-Edge Inductors at Hulamin” at furnaces-international. 

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News from Abroad: Casting Metal and Forging a Venture

/ FOUNDRY CASTING NEWS, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT NEWS

Today’s News from Abroad installment brings us news of casting equipment supplied in China, heat treat supplier joint venture forged in Austria, and big standardization plans in Germany — where doing LESS is more.

Heat Treat Today partners with two international publications to deliver the latest news, tech tips, and cutting-edge articles that will serve our audience — manufacturers with in-house heat treat. heat processing, a Vulkan-Verlag GmbH publication, serves mostly the European and Asian heat treat markets, and Furnaces International, a Quartz Business Media publication, primarily serves the English-speaking globe. 

High-Performance Continuous Caster on Order 

Representatives from Primetals Technologies and Wuyang Iron and Steel at the signing ceremony
Source: Primetals Technologies

“Wuyang Iron and Steel has awarded Primetals Technologies an order for a 1-strand continuous caster with several record-breaking features. The continuous casting plant will be put into operation at the Wuyang plant in Wugang, Henan Province, and is expected to be the most powerful of its kind in the world. It will also produce the thickest slabs in the world, up to 460 millimeters thick. Thanks to the new facilities, Wuyang will be able to produce sheet metal for heavy-duty applications such as shipbuilding and the wind power sector. The annual capacity will be one million tonnes of high-quality slabs.”

READ MORE: “Primetals Technologies: Chinese steel producer orders high-performance continuous caster” at heat-processing.com

Aichelin in Austria

Left to right, 1. row: Christian Grosspointner, CEO Aichelin Group; Mehmet Özdeşlik, CEO Sistem Teknik; 2. row: Wolfgang Brosche, Erwin Strauszberger, Beril Özdeşlik, Beste Özdeşlik, Gökhan Lale, Levent Sindel.
Source: Aichelin

“The Aichelin Group and Sistem Teknik have signed an agreement to establish a joint venture in Austria. This joint venture will produce and distribute industrial vacuum heat treatment technologies and services in Europe. The Aichelin Group is thus adding a promising segment to its existing product portfolio.”

READ MORE: “Aichelin expands portfolio” at heat-processing.com

Germany Decides To Do LESS

Two steelmaker groups, GMH (Georgsmarienhütte) Gruppe and Swiss Steel, have issued notes of approval for the proposal from German steel federation for a standard for low-emission steel (LESS).
Source: worldsteel

Dec“Two steelmaker groups, GMH (Georgsmarienhütte) Gruppe and Swiss Steel, have issued notes of approval for the proposal from German steel federation for a standard for low-emission steel (LESS). Both mills happen to be makers of special bar qualities, and the word of Swiss Steel may have some international weight, given it has melt shops in Germany, Switzerland and France. WV Stahl announced on Monday that it has set a cornerstone for prime markets for climate-friendly streel with a standard its members developed together with the German economy and climate protection ministry. The Low Emission Steel Standard (LESS), as it is called, is the first standard that makes the main customary production routes, blast furnace and EAF, comparable in terms of their efforts to decarbonise. Its centrepiece is a labelling system for the classification of low-CO2 steels.”

READ MORE: “Mills Welcome German Federation’s Low-Emission Standard LESS” at heat-processing.com

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15 Quick Heat Treat News Chatter Items to Keep You Current

/ FEATURED NEWS, HEAT TREAT NEWS INDUSTRIES

Heat Treat Today offers News Chatter, a feature highlighting representative moves, transactions, and kudos from around the industry.

Personnel & Company Chatter

  • A long-term agreement to supply materials used in the manufacture of naval nuclear reactor components has been signed between BWX Technologies, Inc., and Allegheny Technologies Incorporated.
  • Kennametal Inc. announced that it has formed a 3D printing materials and production business unit, Kennametal Additive Manufacturing, as part of its infrastructure segment. The new business unit combines the company’s longstanding expertise in materials science and wear-resistant solutions with additive manufacturing capabilities to supply high-performance metal additive powders and fully finished 3D printed parts for wear, erosion, corrosion, and high-temperature applications.
  • StandardAero Component Services celebrated the grand opening of the company’s 30,000 sq. ft. expansion of its Hillsboro, Ohio, engine component manufacturing and engine component repair facility. The additional working space and capital improvements included the building and additional equipment to support aerospace engine low-pressure turbine vane manufacturing. The Hillsboro location expansion completes StandardAero’s current plans for new building and expansion investments, which have also occurred at its Cincinnati, Miami and Kansas City locations over the last 18 months.

Equipment Chatter

  • A 30-ton tilting rotary furnace for aluminum recycling was installed by GHI at the new facility of Latem Aluminium in Villadangos, Spain.
  • No. 965, a 1350ºF (~733ºC) electrically-heated cabinet oven from Grieve, has been purchased for heat treating titanium at the customer’s facility.
  • Tangshan Zhengfeng Iron & Steel Co., LTD, in Hebei Province, China, recently commissioned three iRecovery® (intelligent waste heat recovery systems) from Tenova, a Techint Group company. Tenova iRecovery® systems will be applied downstream of the new Consteel® Evolution to recover the waste heat and to use it for the production of steam, which will then be available for the existing power plant.
  • A vacuum drying oven has been shipped to the aerospace industry by Tenney Environmental, a division of Thermal Product Solutions. This vacuum drying oven is designed to remove moisture from a large spacecraft engine after it goes through a washing process. The previous conventional method of drying took over 12 hours due to the intricacy of small diameter tubing, fine screen meshes, and other hard to get to areas. The vacuum drying oven will reduce that time to 4 hours. This vacuum drying oven utilizes radiant heat wrapped around the pressure walls to heat the product to approximately 100°F.
  • An electrically heated two-zone bottom flow conveyor oven was shipped to the consumer goods industry by Wisconsin Oven. This belt conveyor oven will be used to cure a latex barrier coating onto maple syrup bottles.
  • Exlabesa, an aluminum extrusion provider for the construction industry in Europe, recently ordered a multi-chamber PR130 melting furnace (complete with charging unit) for its Hertwich continuous homogenizing plant at its Padron (Spain) based facility. This furnace will increase its capacity to 60,000 tons from its Padron casthouse. The new furnace with a capacity of 130 tons per day is designed for a relatively wide range of scrap.  The temperature level in the main chamber from which the melt is tapped for casting is about 1800°F (1000°C).
  • Walsin Yantai Stainless Steel Co. Ltd. has contracted with Primetals Technologies to design and manufacture a new stainless steel combination mill to convert billets from an existing plant into finished products with precision tolerance and surface quality. Located in Yantai, Shandong Province, China, the new mill project with Primetals Technologies will be completed in consortium with CERI Long Product Co. Ltd., including all electrics and automation to approach Industry 4.0. The combination mill will have a straight bar outlet, a bar-in-coil outlet, and a wire rod outlet.
  • A leading industrial engineering and manufacturing group recently completed several furnace projects for global clients. Fives was contracted by Habaş, a leading conglomerate in Turkey which operates in the field of industrial gases, steel, LPG, and heavy machine manufacturing, to design and supply a new generation slab reheating furnace, the Stein Digit@l Furnace®, for its hot strip mill, located in Izmir, Turkey. In addition, Shijiazhuang Iron & Steel Company within China’s HBIS Group ordered two Stein Digit@l Furnaces® from Fives to reheat blooms and billets. The walking beam furnace will have a production capacity of 130 tons per hour and will operate on natural gas. Fives was also selected by Yantai Walsin Stainless Steel to design and supply an ultra-low NOx emission furnace to reheat long products. Yantai Walsin Stainless Steel is a subsidiary of Walsin Lihwa, a world-leading manufacturer of stainless steel, power cables, and wires.
  • A 500°F (260°C) enhanced-duty walk-in oven was delivered by Lewco Inc., of Sandusky, Ohio, that will be used to dry various parts during a manufacturing process.

Kudos Chatter

  • Sr. Quality Engineer)
  • Flash Steelworks, located in Washington, Michigan, provides a patented process for heat-treating steel that leads to mass reduction, performance improvement, and cost savings. This distinction gained them a position among 24 semi-finalists for the 10th annual Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition, where the top prize is $350,000.
  • Materials Solutions, a Siemens company specialized in additive manufacturing (AM), has achieved Nadcap accreditation for AM in the aerospace industry. The accreditation is reportedly the first by a UK company. Materials Solutions, which has its headquarters in Worcester, has provided AM parts and components to the aerospace industry since its founding in 2006. The business is a pioneer in the use of selective laser melting (SLM) technology for the manufacture of high-performance metal parts. SLM applications in the Materials Solutions factory range from high-temperature components found in gas turbines and jet engines, to tooling applications as well as lightweight structural components and hydraulic applications.

Heat Treat Today is pleased to join in the announcements of growth and achievement throughout the industry by highlighting them here on our News Chatter page. Please send any information you feel may be of interest to manufacturers with in-house heat treat departments especially in the aerospace, automotive, medical, and energy sectors to the editor at editor@heattreattoday.com

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Two Companies Join to Acquire Induction Furnace, Heating Systems Manufacturer

/ AUTOMOTIVE HEAT TREAT, AUTOMOTIVE HEAT TREAT NEWS, FEATURED NEWS, INDUCTION HEATING EQUIPMENT NEWS

A manufacturer of induction furnaces and heating systems is scheduled to be acquired by two global corporations from a Chicago-based private equity firm.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) and Primetals Technologies will acquire ABP Induction Systems (ABP), which offers a variety of products and services to automotive OEMs and suppliers, industrial manufacturers, independent foundries as well as steel plant manufacturers and steel producers.

Satoru Iijima Chairman of the Board and CEO of Primetals Technologies

“ABP’s induction heaters are one of the most crucial elements for endless strip production, a flagship process for Primetals Technologies. With ABP becoming one of MHI’s group companies and the further close ties that will bring, we can develop and provide customers with even more advanced technologies,” said Satoru Iijima, Chairman of the Board and CEO of Primetals Technologies.

ABP will be a group company of MHI under the ownership of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America, Inc., headquartered in Houston, Texas, and Primetals Technologies USA LLC, of Alpharetta, Georgia. The acquisition is planned to close around the end of August 2019.

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Heat Treating Carbon Steel to Meet Air-Conditioning Demand

/ ENERGY HEAT TREAT, FEATURED NEWS

A global manufacturing company that provides innovation solutions to industrial, commercial and residential customers signed a contract for equipment supply and installation of a lamination annealing line that will heat treat low carbon and ultra-low carbon steel to soften and impart specific magnetic properties. 

Emerson Electric Co., based in St. Louis, Missouri, secured this agreement with Primetals Technologies for its plant in Russellville, Kentucky, in order to meet seasonal increased demand for air-conditioning units. The London-based Primetals Technologies, a leading engineering, plant-building, and lifecycle services partner for the metals industry, is responsible for the equipment installation, start-up, and commissioning services. Start-up is expected for Spring 2019.

Air-conditioning units that use small electric motors represent a significant portion of Emerson’s market. The market becomes active in late spring as consumers buy air conditioners in anticipation of warm summer days.

Initially, Emerson planned to have a longer lamination annealing line at its Reynosa, Mexico plant, but limited available space required extensive modifications to fit the new line. Instead, Emerson decided to install a new line at its existing Russellville plant. The Emerson and Primetals Technologies teams collaborated to find a cost-effective solution to shorten each section of the line to fit the Kentucky plant layout.

 

Photo Credit: Emerson Electric

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Predictive Maintenance Solutions Agreement Advances Service to Steel-Related Industries

/ HEAT TREAT NEWS INDUSTRIES

Karl Purkarthofer, senior vice president and global head of Metallurgical Services, Primetal Technologies

A predictive maintenance (PdM) service and technology company based in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, recently signed an exclusive cooperation agreement with a global engineering, plant-building, and lifecycle services partner for the metals industry covering the application of predictive maintenance solutions in steel-related industries worldwide.

Primetals Technologies, based in London, United Kingdom, and the Pennsylvania-based Industrial Technology Research (ITR) have been working together successfully in the field of condition monitoring for more than 10 years and jointly serve currently more than 50 customers. In the mid-1970’s, ITR, one of the founders of the vibration monitoring and analysis industry, started as a research and development initiative in one of the world’s largest steel producers and quickly became a leading provider of these technologies and services. ITR serves steel-related industries worldwide, including flat and long rolling, iron and steel making as well as casting, with predictive maintenance offerings that include all major predictive maintenance technologies, such as infrared thermography, airborne ultrasound, and fluids analysis.

“With the technology, know-how, and capabilities of ITR, especially in the area of prediction, we will be able to even better serve our customers through leading condition monitoring and predictive maintenance solutions,” stated Karl Purkarthofer, senior vice president and global head of Metallurgical Services.

 

Photo caption: Primetals Technologies and ITR team up on predictive maintenance solutions: Jonathan Davis, CEO at ITR (center left) and Karl Purkarthofer, Head of Metallurgical Services at Primetals Technologies (center right), shake hands on the occasion of the signing ceremony.

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Brazilian Steel Producer Purchased Continuous Slab Caster

/ FEATURED NEWS, FOUNDRY CASTING NEWS, HEAT TREAT NEWS INDUSTRIES
A two-strand continuous slab caster supplied by Primetals Technologies has gone on stream at Companhia Siderúrgica do Pecém (CSP), a Brazilian steel producer. The plant has a capacity of 3 million t of slabs per annum. The continuous slab caster is part of a new steel works in the Pecém Industrial and Port Complex in São Gonçalo do Amarante in the state of Ceará. Primetals received the order in 2012 from Posco E&C, a company based in South Korea.
The continuous slab caster has a machine radius of 9.5 m and a metallurgical length of 39.8 m. It produces slabs in thicknesses of 220, 250 and 300 mm, and in widths ranging from 1,100–2,300 mm. A wide range of steel grades are cast, from low-carbon structural steels to peritectic and micro-alloyed medium and high-carbon steels, such as ULC, LC, MC, HSLA and HC. The slabs are then rolled into plate and sheet metal for use in mechanical engineering, shipbuilding, boiler and pipeline construction. The maximum casting speed is 1.8 m/min. Primetals engineered the entire plant and supplied core components, the fluid systems, the basic and process automation, and technology packages. The project also included training the operator’s personnel, and supervising the construction and commissioning work.The scope of supply from Primetals included straight Smart Mold molds plus the DynaWidth technology package for dynamic width adjustment during casting. LevCon mold level control and an electromagnetic, multi-mode mold-stirring system were installed to ensure an optimum bath level in the mold. The DynaFlex mold oscillation provides flexible adaptation of the oscillation parameters. The caster’s strand-guide system has a remotely adjustable Smart Bender and Smart Segments which, together with DynaGap Soft Reduction 3D, means that slab thickness can be changed quickly and automatically. I-Star strand-guide rollers support the strand.The Dynacs 3D secondary cooling process model dynamically calculates a three-dimensional temperature profile along the whole length of the strand. This helps to determine precisely the working points of the secondary cooling and the final strand solidification in response to the casting speed, slab format and steel grade. The internal quality of the slabs is improved by using DynaGap Soft Reduction 3D. The roller gap is dynamically adjusted during final solidification based on the working points calculated by Dynacs 3D. DynaJet spray cooling with movable nozzles in the segments ensures uniform, optimum cooling of the slabs, and consequently a high quality surface.

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