Germany's H&K Industrieanlagen has received an order from heavy-plate producer Dillinger Hütte to supply a new slab turnover device for the heavy-plate mill. The new device will turn slabs through 180° for the next processing step.

The device will be installed in the slab handling area and designed for up to 500 mm thick slabs or blooms of 12,500 mm maximum length and 90 tonne maximum weight.

The turnover levers, actuated by four hydraulic cylinders, form the core equipment of the device. The integrated system designed by the sensor technology for path tracking, the controls and the mechanical equipment ensures that the slabs are moved gently, by preventing them from falling over or tilting backwards during the turnover movement. Operator safety is always priority.

When designing the mechanical components, great emphasis was also placed on functionality and easy maintenance.

The order comprises the planning, design, manufacture, installation and commissioning of the complete plant. H&K supplies all the mechanical and hydraulic equipment as well as the basic engineering for the electric equipment – all from a single source – H&K are currently designing the plant. Installation is scheduled for the end of 2012.

The company develops and provides complete solutions for rolling mills, from continuous casting through to the finish-rolled section or sheet. It specializes in customized solutions for both new plants and plant modernizations, which are supplied complete with automation, control and network systems and all ancillary equipment.

The range of products is comprised of:

• rolling equipment: hot rolling stands for long products such as sections, special sections or steel bars
• conveying equipment: roller tables, skids, cooling beds, turnover and shifting devices,
• machining and finishing equipment for cutting, sawing, shearing, cooling and straightening.

H&K plans, designs, manufactures and supplies its plants on a turnkey basis, including erection and commissioning, operator training and service. The company currently has a workforce of 80. Many of them are engineers and technicians specialized in mechanical or electrical engineering, automation and civil engineering.