One month before the scheduled date, Posco has started up its new stainless steel slab caster at the Pohang Works, South Korea. The plant, delivered by Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau (VAI), was started up in fully automatic mode, including Auto Start. The contract for the stainless steel slab caster was executed in a consortium with Posco Engineering and Construction Co. Ltd. Scope of supply included design and supply of a single-strand slab caster. In addition, VAI was in charge of advisory services for local manufacturing, construction, commissioning and training. The caster, which is designed for 150 to 250mm thickness, produces slabs with widths ranging from 600 to 1350 mm. The machine is equipped with the technology including straight cassette-type mold, DYNAFLEX hydraulic oscillator, continuous bending / straightening technology with segments for a future upgrade to SMART/ASTC technology, and dummy bar top-feeding system. In addition to the mechanical equipment, VAI also supplied the complete drive system, instrumentation and level 1 process control system.
