The new Danieli Centro Met combination slab/bloom caster for stainless steel has started up at Taiyuan Iron and Steel in China. The initial operation in March involved carbon steel, stainless steel casting followed soon afterward and almost 10,000 metric tons were cast successfully in the first three weeks of operation. The caster involves a single slab strand and two bloom strands, though the slab strand can also be operated as two bloom strands. Thus, the machine can operate as a single-strand slab caster or a four-strand bloom caster. Product sizes are blooms from 175×215 to 220×220 mm and slabs from 900 to 1,320 mm x 180 to 220 mm. Steel grades processed are medium carbon steels and stainless steels. The machine is designed for satisfying final cast product of the most critical quality requirements. Among the machine’s design features are a vertical curved strand, continuous bending and unbending; a tundish stopper rod for submerged casting; mold EMS for bloom casting, and strand EMS for slab casting. Danieli Automation developed and supplied Levels 1 and 2 automation systems for the operation.
