thyssenkrupp Steel recently held a cornerstone ceremony marking the pre-assembly work for continuous caster No. 4 and hot-strip mill No. 4 at its Bruckhausen site in Duisburg, Germany. The ceremony occurred just days after the inauguration event for the 2-stand reversing cold mill from Primetals Technologies at thyssenkrupp Steel’s Bochum site.
The project at Bruckhausen will separate the existing casting and rolling line into a revamped caster and modernized hot-strip mill. The existing integrated mill is struggling to meet the demands of the automotive industry and other rapidly growing markets. Increased production of high-strength steel grades and premium products is guaranteed by separating the casting and rolling sections.
Our new and rebuilt facilities will enable us to meet the changing needs of the market, e.g., the demand for higher strength steel grades, lower tolerances, and optimized surfaces. This is also a strong signal to our customers, who will benefit from increased flexibility and availability as a result of the new facilities.”
Heike Denecke-Arnold
Chief Operations Officer
thyssenkrupp Steel
Revamping Continuous Casting
The revamped 2-strand continuous caster No. 4 will include advanced and comprehensive mechanical and automation solutions. A mold-width adjustment system, DynaWidth, enables agile and fast slab-width changes. The DynaFlex hydraulic oscillator flexibly adjusts the mold-oscillation parameters, resulting in improved strand-surface quality of the slabs.
The Level 2 automation system features a wide range of modules, including Dynacs 3D, a model that ensures optimal adjustment of secondary-cooling setpoints; DynaGap SoftReduction 3D, a fully automatic roll-gap control system for improved metallurgical properties of the strand; and Mold Expert technology for early detection of caster-mold breakouts, which results in increased plant availability.
We are very happy to collaborate with thyssenkrupp Steel in this massively important project that will have a great impact not just in the Rhine and Ruhr region in Germany but also for Europe as a whole. Close to a third of the larger investment plan comes from Primetals Technologies, and our technology will ensure that thyssenkrupp Steel is set to supply the fast-growing markets for high-strength steel and other advanced steel grades.”
Hans-Jürgen Zeiher
Head of Electrics and Automation
at Primetals Technologies
Updating the Hot-Strip Mill
The modernized hot strip mill enables fewer edge cracks, reduced material waste, and an extended product portfolio. When working with high-strength steels and grades for the e-mobility industry, Thanks to patented Ecopanels—a heat retention system—heat is reradiated back into the transfer bar, increasing rolling and bending force at the finishing mill.
Additional Automation
The single stand 4-high reversing roughing mill will be installed after the new caster No. 4 and two new walking beam reheat furnaces. In addition, the first two finishing mill stands and the strip cooling system will be upgraded. Primetals Technologies will also supply comprehensive Level 1 and 2 automation systems and provide advisory services for installation and start-up.
The automation systems include assistant systems to stabilize the strip when it is being processed in the rolling mill. The production remains stable even during changes in process conditions thanks to a consistent temperature control function and an advanced contour control system across the entire roughing and finishing line.
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