SMS Siemag Technology (Beijing), China, successfully put a continuous caster for medium-sized slabs into operation at the Wuan City works of Hebei Puyang Iron and Steel Co. (Puyang Steel), China. Puyang Steel is extending its slab production to include above all high grades, such as peritectic, micro-alloyed and high-strength steels, high-carbon and boron-alloyed steels, high-quality steels and pipeline grades.
The single-strand continuous slab caster is designed for a yearly production of 1.2 million tons of slabs with thicknesses between 150mm and 180mm and widths between 1,000mm and 2,300mm. The caster has been prepared for a future retrofit to twin-strand casting (two narrow slabs simultaneously in one strand). The supply of the continuous casting plant included the complete plant and process technology, as well as X-Pact® electrical and automation systems complete with the technological process models. The caster is equipped with the technological process models Mold Monitoring System (MMS), Hydraulic Mold Oscillator (HMO), Remote Adjustable Mold (RAM) and dynamic soft reduction.
The continuous slab caster was installed in an existing building (brown field). The existing crane systems were retained. Due to the building situation, SMS did not plan a ladle turret, but instead developed a tailor-made ladle car concept. The containment zone has a very small main radius of only 6.5m.
