Belgian steel producer ArcelorMittal Gent has ordered a LiquiRob casting platform robot from Siemens Metals Technologies to be installed on continuous slab caster CC2. It will perform a number of potentially dangerous tasks automatically, including taking samples, measuring temperatures and hydrogen levels at the distributor, as well as ladle lancing. In future, the ladle shroud will also be manipulated with the aid of the LiquiRob. The new casting platform robot, due to go on stream by September 2014, would also improve working safety conditions at the CC2.
ArcelorMittal Gent’s integrated production plant is part of the Flat Carbon Europe Division. The company produces some 5Mt of flat steel a year. The CC2 casting plant has an annual production capacity of 3Mt. It produces slabs with a thickness of 220mm in widths ranging from 950mm to 2,000mm. The casting platform robot from Siemens will handle tasks on continuous slab caster CC2 that have previously been performed by the plant personnel. This is expected to increase safety at work and improve the reproducibility of measurements. In 2013, Siemens modernised the slag stopper system on two ArcelorMittal Gent LD converters, as well as the drive technology in the finishing train of the hot rolling mill.
