RHI AG (Vienna, Austria):

Fochler R., Corporate Communications, e-mail: steel@rhi-ag.com

Refractories are very important for the industrial chain of product cost creation. RHI company is permanently developing technical innovations to provide better reliability and efficiency of technological processes. The newly developed Interstop Typ S ladle sliding gate of the new generation is a recent example of such approach. Three main problems have been taken into account in this fi eld, meaning decrease of production expenses by iron and steel works: necessity of regular system improvements to meet the requirements of modern ecologically clean steelmaking; providing of safety of personnel work; providing of reliability of equipment operation. It is shown that the automation concept of Interstop Typ S ladle sliding gate guarantees solving of these problems. Consequent technical mod-ernization of this system is connected with design of the new automatic system and self-fixation of refractory plates inside the system. Thereby, these plates always will be in correct position. Auto-setting is self-activated when the lower plate is in the working position.