During the last decade, CPM developed new diagnosis techniques to evaluate more precisely coke oven battery ageing. Among them, the Videofil machine was specially devoted to the inspection of the hot refractory brickwork of coke oven chambers and heating flues. Since the first machine was put into operation, significant improvements have been performed and the last generation of Videofil machine is fully automated, more efficient, more reliable and easier to use. This machine is extensively used in coke plants, but also in the whole steel industry. It contributes to extend the plant service life, to decrease the maintenance costs and to increase the plant availability.

In the last few years, CPM developed a first generation of charging model for coke ovens to improve the uniformity of oven filling and to reduce charging emissions. A new charging model has been recently built to simulate all kinds of charging process with 3, 4 or 5 charging holes and to obtain a more reliable representation of the levelling operation. More particularly, coal accumulation in each compartment of the leveller bar is represented, in order to have a better idea of the gas free space during the levelling operation. By using this model, it is now possible to suppress or reduce coal accumulation in the oven free space during the levelling operation and to obtain a constant and uniform coal profile at the end of charging, without gas emissions.

This paper gives a brief overview of process control in slab reheating furnaces, zooming on the so-called “funnel-concept”, as this is implemented at Corus IJmuiden this year. The control automation in reheating furnaces at Corus started in 1970. In 1985-1990 an on-line slab temperature calculation and control system has been developed and implemented at pusher-and walking-beam furnaces. Ongoing development of this model resulted in a control strategy where the target-heating curve of each individual slab was extended by an upper and lower limit, of which the interval at the entrance gradually diminished to the end of a zone: the funnel model.

In November 2000, UGINE&ALZ Genk awarded VAI a contract to upgrade their steelmaking plant. The scope of work included the world's largest stainless steel slab caster designed for an annual output of 1.2 million tons. The existing casting machine had to be replaced within a comprehensive shut-down period of 21 days only to minimize the financial burden due to the production outage. Innovative project management solutions combined with excellent realization resulted in a successful start-up on October 1, 2002, after a shutdown period of only 20 days. Operational results with regard to productivity and quality are discussed.

Insuring stable supply of wide-width quality slabs for HR/CR automotive and API applications was the main reason for revamping the Posco Gwangyang No. 1-3 machine that is, incidentally, the only large-width slab caster (up to 2,000 mm) in operation at Gwangyang Works. To meet that objective, both at the surface and internal quality points of view, several technical advances were included in the project such as: vertical-bending, multi mode electromagnetic stirring in the mould (MM EMS), hydraulic mould oscillation (DYNAFLEX), split and short-pitch strand guide rolls, soft reduction (ASTC) and dynamic secondary cooling control (DYNACS).

This project was developed in order to keep the production of the CST Continuous Casting No. 2 steady at 2.8 Mt/year. The main focus was the reduction of segments failure that was caused by short life of bearings, a forth of the time expected. The goal established was well overreached due to a set of improvements made by operation, maintenance, technical unit and engineering: reduction of the number of break-outs; improvements on control and raise of casting speed.

Companhia Siderúrgica de Tubarão (CST) has been making intensive efforts to increase the slab production and to maintain a stable level of 5.0 million tons/year. In order to achieve these objectives, it is essential to consider the ability to produce narrow width slabs, 750 ~ 1,050 mm, using twin casting technology. This paper describes the main aspects associated with CST's twin casting process, operational and quality problems faced during the first heats produced, as well as the action plan used by CST to overcome these problems.

As main goal of the upgrading project of its heavy plate mill, voestalpine Grobblech made various improvements on the rolling mill, but most of all replaced the complete mill automation system. As the rolling process is performed almost automatically, the operator can concentrate on quality observation and throughput aspects. The modernization project also concerned the hot leveller in view of improving quality, extending the range of product dimensions and renewing the automation system. A new setup model was installed.

In close collaboration with its customers, Arcelor has developed new hot rolled steel grades for single-face and double-face enamelling. These new grades, that fulfil the most stringent market requirements, are produced in several plants of the Arcelor Group. Their outstanding properties are obtained by the through-process control of precipitation phenomena, including steelmaking, hot rolling and cooling. Particular attention is paid to the addition of strengthening elements, such as Mn, Cr, and Nb, for high strength grades. The enamelling ability and the mechanical properties of these new hot rolled grades are presented in this paper.

Increased landfill costs for steel mill waste residues, stricter environmental regulations and decreasing public acceptance of waste dumping is driving the iron and steel industry to apply environmentally balanced solutions on site. The rotary hearth furnace based technologies fulfill the requirements of zero-waste steelmaking. Basically they allow the treatment of all accumulated steel mill waste under the avoidance of negative side effects on the steel quality and plant productivity with minimized overall steel plant emissions. This paper reflects possible waste recycling principles: Rotary hearth furnace (RHF), RedSmelt and cold briquetting technology. In addition, SMS Demag is currently commissioning a pilot facility applying a combination of a rotary hearth furnace with a coal-oxygen based smelter (RedSmelt NST) at Lucchini in Piombino/Italy. If results meet our expectations, this process too could become an attractive solution for steel mill waste recycling.