Siemens modernizes slab production for HKM

Huttenwerke Krupp Mannesmann GmbH has commissioned Siemens Metals Technologies to modernize the continuous slab production at its Duisburg Huckingen plant in Germany. The project is designed to improve the quality and expand the range of products, as well as to achieve process stability and safety in the workplace.

The casting will be equipped with new, dedicated process automation equipment such as DynaGap soft reduction, LevCon, DynaWidth and DYNAFLEX. In addition, the new equipment will ensure the safety of slab production, as well as optimize temperature control, which guarantees the production of high quality slabs.

The modernization is planned for the end of 2014. During this period, the slab plant will be temporarily closed. It will be shut down for the first time since commissioning in Duisburg since 2000. HKM decided to replace most of the electrical equipment with new Siemens systems as it is unreasonably expensive to supply spare parts for most of the current equipment. In addition, the plant is finding it increasingly difficult to meet the increasingly stringent requirements for process stability and safety standards in production areas.

In the course of the project, the structure of the plant will also be adapted and the functionality of its production expanded. This will increase availability and improve product tolerances. Siemens also intends to fundamentally rebuild the existing air-cooled secondary cooling system and equip it with a Dynajet air conditioning unit, which will improve the quality of the boards.