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ArcelorMittal Ostrava Gets New Robot for Use in Blast Furnace Area

The machine partially replaces manual and physically hard dangerous work. This includes mainly repairs of the main and side runners for hot metal and slag. The primary expectation of the steelmaking company from the robot is increasing the safety of the personnel working in the blast furnace area.
 
“The robot performs activities which replace physically hard and highly dangerous work, such as removing slag deposits near the tap hole or cleaning of concrete runners that are associated with the risk of burns, slipping or falling from height,” said Jan Haščin, director of the blast furnace plant in ArcelorMittal Ostrava.
 
With its dimensions of 780 x 2056 x 1035 mm the robot achieves a respectable performance of 22 kW and the operating radius of its arm is more than 5 meters. The combined dimensions and low weight of the machine (two metric tons) enable easy transport and use even in the confined areas of blast furnaces. The machine accessory such as replaceable steel tracks, highly resistant hydraulic materials, etc., enable using the robot in high temperatures and dusty environment. The operator controlling the robot can always stand in a safe place from which he can see well the work of the robot, which is enabled by the low profile of the machine.


Photo courtesy ArcelorMittal.
 

ArcelorMittal Ostrava a.s. is the largest steelmaker in the Czech Republic and part of the world’s largest steel and mining group ArcelorMittal. It has an annual production capacity of 3 million metric tons of steel. Besides the Czech market, the company sells its products to more than 40 countries around the world. ArcelorMittal Ostrava and its subsidiaries employ more than 7,500 people. Average income of its employees amounted to CZK 34,352 in 2013. ArcelorMittal Ostrava produces iron and steel in compliance with all environmental legislation. It conforms to the EU best available techniques (BAT) emission limits that will come into force in 2016. The sole shareholder is ArcelorMittal Holdings A.G