Primetals Technologies Austria GmbH (Linz, Austria):

Burger S., Bach. Sc., Product Manager E&A, e-mail: stefan.a.burger@primetals.com
Leitner R., Mag. Eng., Product Manager E&A
Lasslberger M., Mag. Eng., Technology Sevelopment

ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe AG (Duisburg-Bruckhausen, Germany:

Thomasky M. F., Mag. Eng., Team Leader of Production Dept.

Thyssenkrupp Steel Europe, one of the global leaders in flat rolling of carbon steels, has put into practice several innovative packages of technological programs: DynaWidth for rise of productivity of continuous casting unit due to online variation of width of cast slabs and MoldExpert system for prevention of liquid steel tearing. These innovations have been put into operation at Bruckhausen plant in Germany. The implementation of the automation modernization at ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe was done successfully in several single steps and the achieved results like an enhanced auto-start to ensure smoother filling of the mould and a reliable anti-bulging algorithm for better quality and increased throughput. Automatic width adjustments can be performed faster and with less stress for the strand shell, which reduces the risk for breakouts. The dramatic reduction of breakouts (› 70 %) is mainly based on the early and exact detection of critical events which is guaranteed with the installed MoldExpert system. For this reason TKSE could not only reduce the entire repair costs but also increase caster availability and productivity. All aims of the modernization project – improved quality and a stable process applying proven solutions – are fully achieved.

1. Juza, P.; Dittenberger, K.; Pesek, Α.; Fleischl, U.; Lang, O.; Oberschmidleitner, N.: The New Generation of Continuous Casting Process, 10^th Continuous CastingConf. (CCC ‘08), 26 – 27 May 2008, Linz, Austria.
2. Thomas, B. G.: On-line detection of quality problems in continuous casting of steel, in: Modelling, Control and Optimization in Ferrous and Nonferrous Industry, [ed.:] Kongoli, F.; Thomas, B. G.; Sawamiphakdi, K.: Materials Science & Technology Sympos., Chicago, USA, 10 – 12 Nov. 2003, TMS, Warrendale, PA, USA, 2003, pp. 29/45.