Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau (VAI), Austria, has been awarded a contract to modernise the wire-coil pickling line at Voestalpine Austria Draht’s Leoben, Donawitz, plant. The project is comprised of a modified pickling, rinsing, activation and phosphate section; new double-chamber drying furnace; additional new transport unit; and renewal of the automation system. VAI’s scope includes engineering, manufacture, delivery and complete installation services as well as the modification/upgrade of the process automation systems. The main targets for the modernisation are a 50% increase in throughput, improvement in the performance parameters (e.g. wire dryness after the pickling process), as well as quality improvements. The new section will feature a closed tunnel design and an efficient air scrubber to ensure total collection and cleaning of acid fumes. Vibration technology will help to minimise carryover losses, which will result in low acid consumption.
