Production of 3rd generation advanced high-strength steel grades (AHSS) for the automotive industry

SMS group modernizes thermal process technology at ArcelorMittal’s continuous annealing line

SMS group upgrades the furnace of the continuous annealing line at ArcelorMittal in Kessales near Liège, Belgium. Goal of the modernization is the production of 3^rd generation AHSS steel grades for the automotive industry. The thermal process will be extended by one flexible zone to achieve that, which for example allows applying the quench and partitioning process. A slow cooling section will be installed, which can be used alternatively as soaking zone. The new section will be installed between heating zone and fast cooling section replacing the original electrical soaking section zone. This new revamp order was awarded to Drever International, Belgium, a company of SMS group. The scope of supply consists of design, manufacturing, assembly, erection and commissioning of the new zone. Modernization measures are scheduled to be completed in September 2016.

The new flexible slow cooling section and soaking zone consists of seven vertical strands with a total length of 140 meters. In this zone the material can either be soaked at 900 °C or it can be cooled down to 650 °C.

Slow cooling is conducted with a maximum of five Kelvin per second, which is achieved by cooling tubes with inclined HNx jets.

The cold strip is treated with a maximal speed of 230 meters per minute in the furnace, where it receives its final material properties. The furnace is able to treat up to 76.5 tons of steel per hour. The processed strip widths range between 600 and 1,650 millimeters and the strip thicknesses between 0.3 and 2.8 millimeters.

The upgraded flexible slow cooling section and soaking zone at ArcelorMittal will consist of seven vertical strands at a total length of 140 meters. The photo shows the corresponding part of a comparable furnace

Based on SMS Group information