Continuous Casting Technology Committee Activities

The CCTC and MRTC met 27–28 February 2024, Charleston, S.C., USA
The two committees met separately and discussed recent safety issues, nominated officers for the next year, and discussed upcoming fall Technology Training Conferences. That afternoon both committees went on a tour of Nucor Steel–Berkeley.

The MRTC presented the Reliability Achievement Award – Bronze to the maintenance team at Nucor Steel–Berkeley for their water reduction project at the degasser. After that award presentation, the CCTC members toured both the sheet caster as well as the beam caster.

The next day, the CCTC and MRTC met together for a series of presentations focused on caster-related maintenance issues and upgrades including air-oil lubrication, bearing configuration, caster upgrades, and turret bearing change-outs.

The CTTC and MSCTC met  22–23 February 2022, Orlando, Fla., USA

The first day of the joint meeting began with both committees reviewing their sessions for AISTech 2022. They also previewed each committee’s upcoming conferences and webinars — the 4th International Congress on Steelmaking (ICS) in June 2022 and Continuous Casting — A Practical Training Seminar in October 2022. It was also determined to put the CCTC’s planned study tour of South Korea on hold until next spring.

CCTC Young Professional chair Tyler Higgins spoke about the AIST Young Professionals and Board of Directors virtual mixer, which was held 9 March 2022, and the Young Professionals’ Roundtable, which will be held at AISTech 2022 on 15 May 2022.

The group then traveled to Nucor Steel Florida Inc. for a tour of its new micro-mill.

The next day, the group reconvened for technical presentations. Eloy Martinez discussed inclusion formation and refining routes for aluminum-killed steels. Gerald Richard gave a presentation on inclusion control and understanding through comparison of computer simulation and actual water modeling of mold flow and meniscus temperatures. Xiadong Li showed the inclusion control functionality of using a tundish pipe in a refractory system. Aidan York reviewed trials with calcium practices and recovery. Lisa Bernau described the investigation and outcome from a slag in mold event. Finally, Hongbin Yin joined the group through video conference to present on

(Mn, Mg)S inclusions and their formation and effect.

Continuous Casting Technology Committee (CCTC) chair Jim Gilmore (right) and Metallurgy — Steelmaking & Casting Technology Committee (MSCTC) chair Bryan Webler (left) presented a plaque of appreciation to Heath Brown (center) for hosting a tour of Nucor Steel Florida Inc. on 23 February 2022.

The CTTC met 20 October 2021, Birmingham, Ala., USA.

The Continuous Casting Technology Committee met in conjunction with the Continuous Casting — A Practical Training seminar. The meeting was held as a hybrid meeting with about 15 people in person and another 15 attendees logging in virtually. 
The CCTC reviewed their committee business for the first part of the meeting, including a discussion about AISTech 2022 session development. A small team volunteered to review the session schedule for the coming conference at a separate meeting. 
The committee also had a lengthy safety discussion about steel industry fatalities. 
The CCTC was reminded to submit any changes about their casting machines for the Continuous Caster Roundup. 
The committee also discussed their upcoming meetings and are planning on holding the next Continuous Casting training course in Corpus Christi, Texas, USA, with a tour of Steel Dynamics Inc. – Flat Roll Group Southwest-Sinton. 
The committee then heard four technical presentations focused on defect characterization from Ian Deeks, Nucor Steel–Arkansas; Bill Schlichting, United States Steel Corporation; Rick Besich, Cleveland-Cliffs; and Sunday Abraham, SSAB Americas. 

The CTTC met 29 June 2021, Nashville, TN USA.

The following officers were elected:

• Chair: Jim Gilmore, Shinagawa Advanced Materials Americas Inc.

• Vice Chair: Madeline Depinet, Nucor Steel–Hertford County

• Papers Chair: Tobin Smith, Steel Dynamics Inc. – Flat Roll Group Butler Division

• Education Co-Chairs: Jeff Brower, Primetals Technologies USA LLC; Bill Schlichting, U. S. Steel – Granite City Works; and Scott Brown, Steel Dynamics Inc. – Structural and Rail Division

• Roundup Co-Chairs: Mark Masters, CMC Steel Alabama, and Ronald J. O’Malley, Missouri University of Science and Technology

• Young Professional Chair: Tyler Higgins, Liberty Steel and Wire

The CCTC held a virtual meeting 10 February 2021.

The CCTC’s meeting began with opening remarks by chair Rudolf Moravec. The committee then held a roundtable discussion of the latest Steel Industry Fatalities report.
The CCTC went over their planned technical sessions for AISTech 2021. Currently there are a total of 10 continuous casting sessions with four to six presentations in each session scheduled. Backup session chairs were solicited in case anyone would not be able to attend due to travel restrictions.
The group then discussed the upcoming Continuous Casting — A Practical Training Seminar, which will be held 19–21 October 2021 in Birmingham, Ala., USA. Education co-chairs Jeff Brower, Bill Schlichting, Scott Brown and Ian Bakshi are working to finalize the program, confirm presenters and schedule roundtable panelists. The seminar will feature plant tours of Nucor Steel Tuscaloosa Inc. and U. S. Steel –
Fairfield Works.
The committee next reviewed the 2021 AIST North and South American Continuous Caster Roundup, which is slated for publication in the July 2021 issue of Iron & Steel Technology.
The CCTC heard an update on the 8th International Congress on the Science and Technology of Steelmaking (ICS) conference, which has been postponed to August 2022 in Portland, Ore., USA. Abstract submission will open 5 July 2021.
The committee’s South Korean Study Tour originally scheduled for November 2021 has also been postponed. The committee is working with a tentative rescheduled date of March 2022.
The group discussed recent AIST webinars on continuous casting technology. It was suggested to organize CCTC-sponsored webinars related to copper mold tubes used in continuous casting. The education committee will get together to organize the webinars, to be held this month.
Presentations: 

• “Digitalization in the Caster,” by Benjamin Zimmerman, SMS Digital.

• “Digital Caster,” by Philip Wieser, Primetals Technologies.

• “Advanced Digital Solutions for Process Automation,” by Reinhold Leitner, Primetals Technologies.

The CCTC held a virtual meeting 21 October 2020.

The meeting began with a warm welcome by CCTC chair Rudolf Moravec. The attendees then reviewed the committee’s current session lineup for AISTech 2021. The 2021 Continuous Casting Best Paper Award was discussed, as well as nominations for the 2021 AIST Board of Directors Awards, including the AIST Distinguished Member and Fellow Award.
The committee voted to postpone their South Korean Study Tour until November 2021.
Presentations: 

• “Assessment of the Peritectic Behavior in the Continuous Casting Mold,” by Franz Ramstorfer, Ternium Brasil Ltda.

• “Use of Micro CT Scan to Study Slab Cracking,” by Hongbin Yin, ArcelorMittal USA Research Laboratories.

• “Quality 4.0 Bringing Digital

• Solutions for Slab Internal Quality,” by Joydeep Sengupta, ArcelorMittal Dofasco G.P.

The CCTC held a virtual meeting 13 May 2020.

The CCTC hosted a meeting with 47 members in attendance. The committee discussed the status of the Continuous Casting training course, which is scheduled for 13–15 October 2020 in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. Committee members determined a few presentation topics that should be added to the existing lineup, such as electromagnetic stirring, mold water in addition to secondary cooling and oil usage as a mold lubrication.
The committee members then elected their officers for the 2020–2021 term. The new CCTC officers are:

• Chair: Rudolf Moravec, ArcelorMittal Global R&D.

• Vice chair: Yury Krotov, Steel Dynamics Inc. – Flat Roll Group Butler Division.

• Papers chair: Ken Morales, AK Steel Research and Innovation Center.

• Education co-chairs: Jeff Brower, Primetals Technologies USA LLC, and Bill Schlichting, U. S. Steel – Granite City Works.

• Roundup co-chairs: Mark Masters, CMC Steel Alabama, and Ron O’Malley, Missouri University of Science and Technology.

The committee also had a follow-up discussion to their meeting in March 2020 on the operational impact and new practices that have come about as a result of the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Presentation:

• “Vallourec’s CCM Revamp — Production and Quality Challenges,” by Mariana Modesto, Vallourec.

The CCTC and PTTC met jointly 11–12 February 2020, Mobile, Ala., USA.

The two committees reviewed the AIST Steel Industry Fatalities report. During the discussion, a suggestion was made for the creation of a safety app. Attendees gave examples of safety “toolbox talks” that take place at their facilities.

Rick Besich gave an update on AISTech 2020. He re-emphasized the role of session chair and papers chair.

The committees nominated officers for the upcoming term.

The CCTC and the PTTC then reviewed their respective roundups.

The CCTC recapped the 2019 Continuous Casting seminar, which was held in Memphis, Tenn., USA. The seminar had 94 attendees. This year’s Continuous Casting seminar will be held in Cleveland, Ohio, USA, with tours of ArcelorMittal Cleveland (slab) and TimkenSteel Corp. (bar).

The PTTC reviewed its 2019 Pipe and Tube seminar, which was held in Birmingham, Ala., USA. The event had 52 attendees. The next Pipe and Tube seminar will be held in the fall of 2021.

Presentations:

• “Quantitative Assessment of Centerline Segregation in As-Cast Products,” by Sunday Abraham, SSAB Iowa Inc.

• “Machine Design Overview of New SMS group Inc. Continuous Casters in the USA,” by Joseph Laughlin, SMS group Inc.

• “Slab Quality Improvements for Line Pipe Applications,” by Rudolf Moravec and Rick Besich, ArcelorMittal USA.

The committees also held an open discussion on American Petroleum Institute (API) requirements.
The two groups then planned their fall 2020 and spring 2021 meetings. The CCTC will hold its fall 2020 meeting in conjunction with the Continuous Casting training conference, and its spring 2021 meeting in either San Antonio, Texas, USA, or Birmingham/Tuscaloosa, Ala., USA. The PTTC’s meetings are yet to be determined.
The next day the committees toured Berg Pipe Mobile and SSAB Alabama.