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Siemens to Modernize Continuous Caster for HKM in Germany
05/10/2013 - Siemens Metals Technologies has received an order from Hüttenwerke Krupp Mannesmann GmbH (HKM) to modernize the No. 1 continuous slab caster in the DuisburgHuckingen plant.
Siemens Metals Technologies has received an order from Hüttenwerke Krupp Mannesmann GmbH (HKM) to modernize the No. 1 continuous slab caster in the DuisburgHuckingen plant. The aim is to increase the production capacity of the plant from around 1 million to 1.1 million tons of slabs per year, and also to further improve the quality of the products. To this end, the plant will be fitted during the first expansion stage with a hydraulic mold divider for the production of twin slabs.
Siemens will also design a new segment 1 and a new run-out area, both of which will be implemented in the second stage. The start-up of the casting plant is scheduled for the end of 2013.
HKM operates three continuous slab casters in Duisburg-Huckingen. Continuous slab caster 1 is designed as an oval curve with a casting radius of five meters, and produces slabs 260-mm thick. Both strands of the casting plant, originally supplied by another company, were converted to twin-slab operation in 2001 in order to produce narrow slabs with widths of between 325- and 700-mm as input material for medium strip production.
Under the current modernization project, Siemens will equip casting plant 1 with a hydraulic mold divider. Conversion to hydraulic adjustment of the narrow face enables the divider to absorb higher forces, so that additional rolls can be installed to support the slab. This will reduce bulging on the narrow faces of the strand, improve the internal quality of the slabs and increase production capacity. Siemens will also be designing a new segment 1 on the casting plant, which optimizes the slab support. These measures will reduce bulging of the slabs below the molds, and also improve the interior quality of the product. After completion of the modernization work, it will be possible to adjust the narrow faces of the mold divider more precisely and thus achieve tighter product tolerances. To further boost plant capacity, Siemens will also be optimizing the design of the run-out area. The entire conversion of the casting plant will take place during a scheduled ten-day plant standstill.
Hüttenwerke Krupp Mannesmann GmbH (HKM) is located in Duisburg, Germany. The company employs 3,000 people and produces up to 5.6 million tons of steel per year. The company specializes in the production of slabs for flat and tubular products, as well as rounds for pipes. These are produced exclusively for the current business partners: ThyssenKrupp Steel AG, Salzgitter Mannesmann GmbH and Vallourec & Mannesmann Tubes S.A.S. HKM's product portfolio includes more than 3,000 different types of steel.
