ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe AG (Duisburg, Germany):

Petry S., Dr. Eng., Team Leader, Process Development, e-mail: stefan.petry@thyssenkrupp.com

Knopp I., Team Coordinator

Braß H.-G.,Team Leader, Continuous Casting Beeckerwert

Krieg R., Team Leader, Plant Organization

Sobiech D., Techn. Coordinator, Quality Inspection

For an optimized production program in the hot rolling mills accuracy of slab width is essential. Slab width after casting often deviates from the adjusted mould width and is influenced by casting parameters (in the beginning and end of casting process). It was caused by necessity of definite time period for undertak-ing of corresponding correction. It is shown that in the case of short varying of casting conditions, correction process often is not able to monitor dynamically changing casting parameters. Investigations were performed at ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe AG in Duisburg to identify the correlation of casting parameters on strand spreading. A computer system was developed to predict strand spreading in advance by mathematic modelling. The system compensates the amount of spreading by an automatic mould width changing so that accuracy in achieving the order width was improved signifi cantly. The further aim of development is formulated: to improve reaction capacity of the system and to provide optimal balance between correction frequency, speed and other varying parameters of casting.