Siemens installs slag stopper systems on converters at ArcelorMittal, Belgium

ArcelorMittal Belgium NV has placed an order with Siemens VAI Metals Technologies for the supply of two Simetal Vaicon stoppers. The slag stopper systems will be installed on two 300-ton LD converters at ArcelorMittal’s Gent works. Reducing slag carry-over to a minimum will improve the chemical composition and thus the quality of the steel. The modernization project is scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2013.

At the company’s Gent works, ArcelorMittal operates LD (BOF) converters, with a tapping weight of 300 tons. In order to almost completely prevent slag carry-over with the steel towards the end of the tapping procedure, Siemens will equip each of the converters with a Simetal Vaicon slag stopper system. In this solution, the taphole is pneumatically sealed with nitrogen gas. This noncontact technology ensures reliable operation irrespective of possible taphole wear. The slag stopper systems ordered by ArcelorMittal Gent can be operated either in manual or automatic mode and will be able to reduce the slag content in the liquid steel to levels lower than four kg/t, which will result in reduced rephosphorization and resulfurization of the steel.

The integrated production plant of ArcelorMittal Gent belongs to the company’s Flat Carbon Europe Division. The plant has an annual production of roughly five million tons of flat-rolled steel, e.g. for the automotive and the household appliances industries. On the basis of a previous contract, Siemens is currently modernizing the drives in the finishing train of the hot-rolling mill in Gent.

Further information about solutions for steel works, rolling mills and processing lines is available at: http://www.siemens.com/metals

A photo supplements this press release. Please see: http://www.siemens.com/mt-picture/IMT201209226
(Simetal Vaicon Stopper system of Siemens at ArcelorMittal Bremen)

The Siemens Industry Sector (Erlangen, Germany) is the world’s leading supplier of innovative and environmentally friendly products and solutions for industrial customers. With end-to-end automation technology and industrial software, solid vertical-market expertise, and technology-based services, the Sector enhances its customers’ productivity, efficiency, and flexibility. With a global workforce of more than 100,000 employees, the Industry Sector comprises the Divisions Industry Automation, Drive Technologies and Customer Services as well as the Business Unit Metals Technologies. For more information, visit www.siemens.com/industry

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Based on Siemens (Industry Sector, Metals Technologies) information