voestalpine Stahl Donawitz will expand its Through-Process Quality Control (TPQC) system to evaluate long-term data automatically and seamlessly from the meltshop. After using it at its CC4 continuous caster for the past 1.5 years, the new implementation will encompass the entire production chain from the ladle furnace and converter to secondary metallurgy and the vacuum degassing plant.
Automatic Evaluation
After each production step, the TPQC system automatically evaluates product and process quality to meet customer requirements. Plant operators and process engineers may also review the collected data and functionalities of TPQC, allowing for extensive process evaluation and providing insights for further optimization, improving both production processes and end products.
The TPQC system’s capability to evaluate data sets acquired over the long term is particularly helpful in our efforts to continuously optimize our production processes and product quality.”
Marco Vauti, Project Manager for Plant Expansion
The TPQC system in Donawitz will cover all aspects of the production chain and combine with the existing system at the CC4 continuous caster. In addition, the TPQC system is also in the works at continuous caster CC3.
Data Analysis for Better Decision-Making
Digital assistance functions and statistical process control, among other features, are used to establish which measures will lead to the most significant improvements. The system interfaces with business intelligence platforms and allows for simple and fast visualization of data. Real-time data feedback helps operators make quick data-backed decisions, even during production. Thanks to TPQC’s integration into data analytics platforms, it can identify patterns in the historical production data and provide new insights into the production process.
TPQC is part of Primetals Technologies’ Through-Process Optimization (TPO) solution used by steel producers worldwide to achieve operational excellence along the entire production chain.
Long-lasting Cooperation
For more than 25 years, Primetals Technologies has collaborated with voestalpine in Donawitz. A subsidiary of the leading steel and technology group voestalpine, voestalpine Stahl Donawitz produces premium steel based on specific customer requirements. About 1.6 million tons of high-quality crude steel is made annually at the Donawitz site.
MORE INFORMATION
Click here to read the full press release, access contact details, and find other press resources.
