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Metals Technologies

Secondary metallurgy solutionsTechnology, mechanical engineering, automation and electrical engineering from a single source – top values in productivity, consumption and availability

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From alloy handling to degassing, desulfurization, and decarburization,

the production of high-quality steels without secondary metallurgy is unthink-

able. It’s crucial that the entire plant meets all prescribed performance values

while at the same time delivering the planned steel quality in a safe, repro-

ducible manner. Our work is focused on fulfilling these requirements.

You expectK Efficient production and maximum

productivity – through application of comprehensive plant expertise

K Reliable delivery times, prompt com-missioning, fast run-up – and reliable spare part supply

K Flexible plant design – for the produc-tion of various steel qualities

K Low, demonstrably reachable consump-tion values – for alloying elements and energy

K Reliable compliance with environ-mental regulations – including future requirements

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Your challenge:Refining crude steel,improving performance

Perfect teamwork for maximum efficiency

High availability, short charge cycle times, low consumption values, and reduced personnel costs are decisive factors for the performance and productivity of your secondary metallurgy. All of this requires basic expertise from your solution provider:

K Only finely tuned process control and automation ensure efficient use of personnel and short cycle times.

K Only precise scaling of design parame-ters for the material used can guarantee verifiable conformance with consump-tion values.

K And only the correct plant designleads to minimal space costs for the vacuum pump, alloying facility, and metallurgical vessels.

Your customers require the best

Does your plant need to produce a wide variety of products? Do you need to quickly adapt to different requirements? Are you looking to reliably fulfill challeng-ing expectations – perhaps in the area of ULC steels, where today a carbon content of less than 20 ppm is often expected?

This requires mechanics specifically designed for steel mills as well as an efficient automation solution and high-ly developed process models for various steel qualities. But the parameters that influence the process must also be stable and calculable, especially when it comes to the power supply.

High plant performance must be long-lasting

The expertise of your service and main-tenance personnel has a significant influ-ence on plant operation, safety, and avail-ability. That’s why your solution provider must be able to pass on available knowl-edge to operating personnel, and to sup-port your service experts at any time with necessary spare parts.

In short: A commitment is needed that goes beyond what’s often seen in the industry today.

Environmental require-ments are also growing

International agreements and national laws require a reduction of pollution and CO2 emissions. And naturally you also have a responsibility to the people and the country where you are produc-ing. So you should also evaluate your solution provider on how well they can support increasing environmental re-quirements – both today and tomorrow.

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The right approach:Our secondary metallurgy solutionsfor your EAF or BOF steelmaking shop

K An MES (Manufacturing Execution Sys-tem) solution for optimized production planning and for minimizing of raw materials’ consumption.

Our offerings also include power quality solutions for a stable, fault-free energy supply for your secondary metallurgy, even under high power loads.

Complying with emission limits – including future standards

As a complete plant supplier we can pre-cisely configure the downstream environ-mental technology to the gas exhaust parameters and the secondary metallurgy process cycle. You’re assured of not only fulfilling today’s limit values, but of being prepared for tomorrow’s regulations as well.

Ensured performance throughout the entire life-cycle

With reliable operation thanks to knowl-edge transfer from our training experts, and assured spare part supply, Siemens VAI’s comprehensive service offerings boost plant availability throughout the entire life-cycle. And we also cover your strategically planned modernization at just the right point in time in terms of both technology and economics.

All components from Siemens VAI are built to withstand the highest everyday loads. We achieve this through extensive standardization, many years of teamwork with selected suppliers, certified output controls, and systematic quality assurance. In addition, we guarantee that parts criti-cal to performance will be produced in Germany.

The result: Assured delivery times, high availability and a long plant life-cycle.

Coordinated layout – optimized process

Just as decisive as component quality is the optimization of plant layout and process.

Our experience helps us precisely coor-dinate movement cycles in order to mini-mize secondary processing times and use electrical and thermal energy more efficiently. And by holistically taking all upstream and downstream plants into account, the individual cycle times can be “cleanly” balanced.

Automation with power – for productivity and quality

All secondary metallurgy processes, from ladle furnace to vacuum treatment plant, are covered using an easily integrated automation solution from Siemens VAI. In addition to process control, it also offers:

K Continuously developed process mod-els for the reliable, reproducible pro-duction of various steel qualities.

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What does working with Siemens VAI stand for? It stands for thirty years of vacuum

technology and 100 years of Siemens experience as partner to the metals industry –

and an installed base of 180 secondary metallurgical plants. This unique combination

of technology, mechanical and electrical engineering, and automation under the name

of Siemens VAI is your guarantee that all your requirements will be met.

Good reasons for our secondary metallurgy solutionsK Reliable fulfillment of the contractual

conditions – through a reliable plant from an experienced partner

K Faster, more reliable run-up – using operator-friendly plants in combination with the process expertise of Siemens VAI

K Highest productivity, flexible process management and availability – using perfectly coordinated technology, auto-mation and process models

K Always at the forefront of technical developments, for example through T-COB lance, the two-stage vacuum pump and powerful automation solutions

K Fast amortization – thanks to mini -mized consumption figures, high avail-ability and assured productivity

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The VD process

During vacuum treatment the carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, and sulfur contents are reduced in different process steps depending on the melt composi-tion. A vacuum alloy hopper system allows for compositional adjustments. Good homogenization and high alloy yields are characteristic features of this process. De-pending on the metal lurgical reactions in the ladle, a freeboard of 600–1,200 mm is required. In order to increase productiv-ity, the VD system can also be designed (or expanded) to a twin-vessel system.

Vacuum tank degassing systems (VD)Proven and reliable

80 -t VD plant, Acc. Venete S.P.A., Camin, Italy

Vacuum tank degassing is one of the old-est degassing techniques in use in the steel industry for improving steel quality. A teeming ladle is placed in a vacuum tank, which is connected to a vacuum pump system. The ladle is equipped with 1–3 porous plugs through which inert gas is injected into the melt to promote stirring. Metallurgical reactions such as degassing, deoxidation, decarburization, desulfurization and alloying take place under vacuum conditions.

Vacuum alloying hopper

Vacuum cover

TV camera

Suction line

Slide gate

T&S lance

Heat shield

Vacuum vessel

Argon brick

Good homogenization and high alloy yields.

Features and benefits

K Accelerated reactions under vacuumconditions

K Achieving low contents of carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen and sulfur

K Improved steel cleanliness, especiallywith respect to oxides and sulfides

K Low investment and operational costs

Selected references

Salzgitter AG, Salzgitter, Germany

Azovstal, Mariupol, Ukraine

Çolakoglu Metalurji A.S., Gebze, Turkey¸ˇ

The VOD system is a tank degassing unit which is additionally equipped with an oxygen blowing lance. This ad-ditional oxygen supply can be used for the produc tion of extra low carbon grade stainless steel (forced decarburization) or for chemical heating of the melt in con-junction with aluminum/silicon additions (VD-OB process). The vacuum pump is designed accordingly, having a higher capacity in order to cope with the in-creased off-gas volume.

Metallurgical benefits

K Production of ULC grades (VD-OB process)

K Production of extra low Carbon stain-less steel grades (VOD process)

K Operation possible with varying initial carbon contents

K Flexibility to use lower cost HC alloying materials

K Low chromium oxidation losses in stainless steel production resulting from low partial pressure

K High rate of chromium recovery by slag metallurgy

K Chemical heating

K Low final content of dissolved gas

K Improved steel cleanliness (non-metallic inclusions)

K Achievement of exact compositional values

Selected references

Lisco, Guangzhou, P.R. China

Wuyang ISCO, Wuyang, P.R. China

Gerdau Acos Finos Piratini, Porto Alegre, Brazil

Acc. Venete S.P.A., Camin, Italy

VD-OB / VOD system For maximum metallurgical flexibility

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110 -t VD/VOD plant, Wuyang ISCO, Wuyang, China

Vacuum alloying hopper

Vacuum cover

TV camera

Suction line

Slide gate

T&S lance

Water-cooled heat shield

Vacuum vessel

Argon brick

Oxygen lance

Production of ultralow carbon grades and stainless steel

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The RH process is carried out in a refractory-lined vessel, equipped with two snorkels which are immersed in the steel bath. By reducing the system pres-sure and injecting inert gas into the upleg snorkel, the melt rises into the vacuum vessel where decarburization, degassing and other degassing reactions take place. The steel then recirculates the entire heat which will be rapidly treated. Immersion of the snorkels is either carried out by lowering the vacuum vessel or by lifting the ladle. In order to minimize vessel ex-change time a quick-change vessel system can be provided.

Metallurgical benefits

K Optimum decarburization to less than 15 ppm

K Operation also with varying initial car-bon contents

K Flexibility to use lower-cost HC alloying materials

K Chemical heating of the melt possible

K Low final content of dissolved gas

K Improved overall steel cleanliness

K Achievement of exact compositional values

RH plantsThe vacuum circulation process

150 -t RH plant, Benxi ISCO, Benxi, P.R. China Removing the snorkels

Vacuum alloying hopper

Argontuyeres

Vacuum vessel

Suction line

Slide gate

Vesselbottomtuyeres

Ladle

Side wallburner

T-COB lance

Fast decarburization

Selected references

voestalpine Stahl, Linz, Austria

ArcelorMittal Méditerranée, Fos-sur-Mer, France

Maanshan ISCO, Maanshan, P.R. China

Zhangjiagang Hongfa (ZHF), Jinfeng Town, P.R. China

ArcelorMittal Gent (Sidmar), Gent, Belgium

Companhia Siderúrgica Paulista (COSIPA), Cubatão, Brazil

ArcelorMittal Tubarão (CST), Tubarão, Brazil

Gerdau Açominas, Sao Paulo, Brazil

Zhangjiagang Rong Sheng (ZRS), Jinfeng Town, P.R. China

Jiang Yin Xing Cheng, Jiangyin City, P.R. China

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170 -t RH/T-COB plant at COSIPA, Cubatao, Brazil

T-COB lancePerfectly controlled decarburization

T-COB lance in process

UV cell for flame control

Laval nozzle for oxygen blowing

Camera

Ignition burner

T-COB lance (Technometal Combined Ox-ygen Blowing) is provided at an RH plant for the injection of oxygen for forced de-carburization, chemical heating, injection of gas and oxygen for vessel preheating, as well as for skull removal inside the RH vessel. Thus, a T-COB lance is crucial for the production of ultralow carbon steel grades.

The lance is equipped with a UV cell for flame control during burning. The lance can be equipped with a camera to ob-serve steel circulation, alloying additions during treatment, the flame development dur ing burner function for safety reasons and for refractory inspections. In addi-tion, a pyrometer can be installed inside the vessel for temperature measurements to avoid damage to the refractory and for the continuous measurement of the steel temperature.

Features

K Oxygen blowing for decarburization and chemical heating

K Heating temperature burnerapprox. 1,400 °C

K RH vessel heating up to 50 °C/h

K Skull removal

Main benefits

K Possible to decarburize heats with higher carbon levels

K The steel can be heated during RH treatment

K Quick skull removal using burner function

K Can be used for heating of RH vessel

K Observation of steel circulation

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Features and benefits

K Use of only one DETEM ladle for fur-nace tapping, vacuum treatment and casting

K Low temperature losses with the use of high-grade insulation materials and a specially designed ladle shape charac-terized by a small freeboard

K Reaction space provided for the special DETEM ladle and ladle cover

Developed in the mid-1980s, the DETEM process represents the ideal solution for secondary metallurgical operations for small heat sizes ranging from 5 to 20 tons. The process was the result of a joint re-search and development project between Siemens VAI and Dörrenberg Edelstahl. All process steps which are possible in VD and VOD plants can be economically carried out with the DETEM process, even the production of special and stainless steel grades. DETEM plants are in opera-tion worldwide, particularly in micromills, forging shops and foundries.

The DETEM processThe clever way to economic metallurgy

K Unique vacuum sealing system between the ladle and vacuum cover, consisting of a combination of refractory materials and neoprene

K Extremely low suction capacities re-quired due to small system volume

K Therefore, low consumption of steam and cooling water

K Identical metallurgical benefits as with VD/VOD plants

Selected references

Dörrenberg Edelstahl, Ründeroth, Germany

R.W. Carrs, Sheffield, United Kingdom

Microsteel, Durban, South Africa

Shougang Gitane, Shougang, P.R. China

Breitenfeld Edelstahl AG, Mitterdorf, Austria

Emirates Techno Casting (ETC), Dubai, U.A.E.

5 -t DETEM vacuum degassing plant at R.W. Carrs,

Sheffield, United Kingdom

12 -t DETEM plant for stainless steelmaking at Microsteel, Durban, South Africa

Alloying hopper

Argonbrick

Oxygen lance

Slide gate

Suctionline

Compensator

Vacuumcover

Vacuumladle

Vacuum trough

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Design features

Our ladles share the same outstanding design features as in SIMETALCIS EAF. A compact design guarantees minimum space requirement while offering easy ac-cess to the roof and for electrode replace-ment. The main features comprise:

K Water-cooled roof without refractory lining in center area

K Automatic lance manipulators for temperature measuring, sampling, stirring, and/or powder injection

K Wire feeding for deoxidation and microalloying

K Automatic coupling system for stirring gas

K Inert gas stirring system (porous plugs and/or purging lance)

Layout arrangements

K Single ladle furnace:Fixed or swiveling gantry Single or twin ladle cars or turret

K Twin ladle furnace:Swing-type gantry with two roofs Standing or hanging gantry Twin ladle cars or turrets

Main benefits

K “Buffer function” between melting and casting

K Reduced melting unit refining time and tapping temperature

K Exact temperature adjustment for con-tinous casting

K Steel purification and homogenization

K Exact adjustment of the steel composi-tion (metallurgical fine-tuning)

K Improvements in productivity, casting yield and steel quality

K Reduction in total costs

K Reduction in refractory consumption

Selected references

Single ladle furnace:

Mittal Steel, Karmet, Kazakhstan

MMK – Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works, Magnitogorsk, Russia

voestalpine Stahl, Linz, Austria

Twin ladle furnace:

ArcelorMittal Carinox, Châtelet, Belgium

Azovstal, Mariupol, Ukraine

Salzgitter Flachstahl, Salzgitter, Germany

Operational features

K Operation with submerged ‘’long arc’’ under synthetic slag

K Efficient energy input with high active power and efficient heat transfer

K ”Stirring’’ by blowing inert gas into the steel to improve fast slag reactions and heat transfer

K Treatment times of less than 20 min (twin LF)

K Buffer function between melt shop and caster

K Divert refining time from the EAF/converter

K Decrease tapping temperature at the EAF/converter

K Exact temperature adjustment for con-tinuous casting

K Improvement in casting performance by exact ladle arriving time

K Steel purification and homogenization

K Exact adjustment of the steel composi-tion (metallurgical fine-tuning)

K Improved cleanliness of the steel

K All steel qualities, including stainless steel, can be treated

165 -t twin ladle furnaces at Carinox, Châtelet, Belgium

Ladle furnacesThe quality link between melting and casting

Installation of a ladle furnace between the

melting and casting areas is vital to assure

quality and/or productivity improvements in

steelmaking. Ladle furnace arrangements

include single stations (with fixed/swiveling

gantries or with ladle cars/turrets) and also

twin stations (two roofs) with one swiveling

electrode gantry.

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Vacuum pumps and dust removalThe heart of every vacuum degassing plant

The vacuum pump systems necessary for vacuum degassing units are entirely designed and engineered by Siemens VAI process specialists. This ensures that the technical performance of each supplied pump system will meet the process and metallurgical requirements under all cli-matic conditions.

Corus Aldwarke, Rotherham, England

Full range of solutions

Cooling tower

Water ring pumps

A typical pump system consists of an arrangement of steam ejectors with the necessary condensation stages, often in combination with water ring pumps. Siemens VAI offers the full range of pumping systems, including customized and cost-saving solutions for tailpipe and hot-well tank systems.

An economic solution for dust removal

Significant dust quantities (up to 5 kg of dust per ton of treated steel) are gener-ated during vacuum degassing processes,

mainly with oxygen blowing. In order to avoid the high investment costs which could be necessary for a water treatment plant, including a sludge thickener and sludge disposal system, a specially de-signed bag filter unit is installed in the suction line prior to the vacuum pump. Virtually all of the generated dust is re-moved from the waste gas stream under vacuum conditions.

Hybrid pump Full steam ejector pump

Cooling tower12

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Vacuum pumps and dust removal Advanced automation solutionsEnhancing the overall performance

Siemens VAI stands for the combination of technological expertise and unique automation experience. Basic automation, process control, process models for vari-ous steel qualities and master production planning on the MES (Manufacturing Execution System) level all come from one source – closely tuned in to plant construction.

Our comprehensive automation solu-tion for secondary metallurgy is based on an integrated, open concept – for all processes from ladle furnace to vacuum treatment units.

The modular design ensures that every unit of the automation system can be separately planned, started up and re-paired – without an interruption of the entire process. The central performance characteristics are found in the following overview:

Main benefits

K Stable production conditions, system-atic quality improvement

K Higher productivity through optimized treatment

K Secure investment thanks to high flex-ibility for expansions

K Reduced downtimes, service and spare parts costs through preventative service concepts

Vacuum model calculations

K Cyclic calculation of remaining degas-sing time and C contents in steel bath

K Periodic recalculation (flexibly adjust-able) of exact steel bath temperature and energy content

K Prediction of completion of heat based on actual operating parameters and target values

Heat pacing

K Calculation of required vacuum treat-ment time

K Recommendation of necessary operat-ing procedures

K Exact coordination of secondary metallurgical operations

K Treatment progress information to continuous caster

Operator guidance

K User-friendly, instantaneous, graphical display of all important process data

K Recommendation of operating proce-dures for fulfilling all quality and pro-duction demands

K Analysis of previous heat histories and trends

Metallurgical model

K Final adjustment of steel bath chemical composition on a cost-optimized basis

K Continual recalculation of steel bath and slag chemistry, considering the composition of all charged materials and the resulting metallurgical reactions

K Desulfurization, alloying and deoxida-tion included

Thermal supervision and control

K Periodic recalculation of exact steel bath temperature and energy content

K Automatic temperature control for sequence casting

Keeping an eye on resources, keeping planning under control

The automation solution also encompass-es MES solutions that address questions such as: Is the resource available, in use or being repaired? Is it configured proper-ly for the planned processing step? What is its “history”? Its performed operating hours, defect tendency, etc.?

In this way, the rough and the detail planning can be realistically aligned to the available resources and then implemented.

ERP

MES

Automation

Power, drives and infrastructure

Process

... from the field up to the management levelLeading automation solutions based on standards such as SIMATIC S7 and SIMATIC IT on all plant levels ...

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To be successful in the steel market today, a producer must continually improve steel quality as well as produc-tivity and reduce conversion costs.

Continuous development in technology, equipment and systems means that with relatively small investments, major im-provements can be made in steel qual- ity, plant performance and production efficiency.

Siemens VAI offers a comprehensive range of tailor-made upgrading solutions for the harsh operating conditions of electric steelmaking. All components and systems supplied are designed for endur-ance, easy access and low maintenance and offer superb value for the money.

Features

K Multidimensional problem-solving expertise capabilities for turnkey system supply

K Individual, customer-oriented solution approach

K Minimum interruption in ongoing plant operations

Our servicesBest performance throughout the lifetime of your plant

K Proven short solution implementation times within scheduled plant shutdowns

K Fast response and short delivery times

K “Rapid action” response teams in emer-gency situations

K Continual technology and service im-provement through partner feedback

K Worldwide service network

K In-house workshop for highest-quality materials and workmanship

K Proven short return on investments

Main benefits

K Continuous improvement in plant performance

K Higher plant availability

K Technological solutions for boosting productivity

K Improved and consistent product quality

K Lower conversion costs

K Long-term relationships and partner-ships

Tailored solution for the

best steel quality, and the

highest plant efficiency

and performance.

Selected references

Salzgitter Flachstahl, Stahlwerke Bous, Germany

Gerdau Acos Finos Piratini, Porto Alegre, Brazil

Hangzhou Iron&Steel, Hanggang, P.R. China

Hadeed Saudi Iron and Steel Company, Al-Jubail, Saudi Arabia

MMK – Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works, Magnitogorsk, Russia

Çolakoglu Metalurji A.S., Gebze, Turkey¸ˇ

Services for steelmakers

Experience, compe-tence, and expertise are available as soft skills in addition to hardware supplies and technological upgrades.

Electric steelmaking: our soft skill services Electric steelmaking: our hardware supply services

Investigation, inspec tions & feasibility study

Consulting & training Spare parts & components Upgrading & modernization

K Evaluation and diagnosis – equipment conditions – standard operation – plant performance

K Identification of problems– on-site inspections – bottlenecks – operating practice

K Proposal of solutions to achieve – new milestones – new targets – higher efficiency – new steel grades

K Fact finding missions

K On-site support: ”show-how“

– maintenance

– operation

K Assistance during start-ups

K Installation and commis-

sioning services during:

– weekly maintenance shifts

– yearly shutdown

– provision of operational

and maintenance training

and technical assistance,

including know-how and

show-how services

K Supply of spare parts

– components

– equipment

– systems

K Reengineering of

components

K Consignment stock

services

K Repair and remanu facturing

K For any secondary metal-

lurgical equipment portion

and type

K Implementation of innova-

tive technologies

K Performance-enhanced

solutions

– secondary metallurgical

design improvement

– latest vacuum and

injection technologies

– advanced process

models

– automation packages

Siemens VAI stands for a successful long-term relationship and partnership

RecyclingModernization

New investmentOperation

• Investigation/inspections & feasibility study• Design• Layout• Construction• Installation• Commissioning

Consulting | Planning | Financing

• Service contracts • Spare parts and components • Consulting and training • Online and offline

maintenance • Maintenance contracting

• Migration packages • Upgrading and

modernization

Siemens VAI Life-cycle Services

As a plant operator, you have conflicting needs. On the one hand, your perfor-mance each quarter is measured against short-term profitability expectations. On the other hand, you have to think on a completely different timescale as com-pared to the capital market. Depending on the lifetime of your plant, you have to take into account 15 years or more. At the very least, that’s 60 full quarters.

But thanks to our comprehensive exper-tise and integrated approach to solutions, you benefit both short-term and long-term from our life-cycle services.

In the short term: Backed by our exten-sive experience with many reference plants, we provide you with the certainty of fast, dependable production start-up and shorter amortization periods.

In the long term: Our master plan guar-antees competitive performance for your plant in every phase of its life-cycle. Whether we’re providing 24/7 techni-cal support, optimizing maintenance or making permanent plant improvements, we’re always working to ensure the cost-effective operation of your plant.

Life-cycle managementPartnership never ends

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Expertise from experienceSelected success stories with secondary metallurgy solutions

One solution – two highlights

Customer: NLMK Novolipetsk Steel, Lipetsk, Russia

Plant type: 2 x 330t ladle furnace; Highlight: CaSi Injection; slag stopper unit between BOF converter and ladle furnace

Our solution: Installation of two 330t LF including alloy system, complete Automation and Auxilliaries. Complete metallurgical support.

The result: Extension of product range (e.g. very low sulfur content steel grades for gas pipes and marine pipes) Decrease of BOF converter tapping temperature Increase of productivity

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Optimized logistics – boosting productivity

Customer: ArcelorMittal Méditerranée, Fos-sur-Mer, France

Plant type: RH plants with TOP lance, 315 tons heat size

Our solution: Complete implementation of a RH plant with the possibility to move the ladle car under the vacuum unit.

The result: Very high productivity increase through sophisticated logistic concept.

The first and largest

Customer: Maanshan ISCO, Maanshan, China

Plant type: RH twin plant with T-COB lance and twin ladle furnace, 330 tons heat size

Our solution: Implementation of the first and largest plant of this type (a twin plant with quick-change vessels).

The result: Significantly higher productivity and plant availability than with single RH plants.

Twins

Customer: Salzgitter AG, Salzgitter, Germany

Plant type: VD plant, 210 tons heat size

Our solution: Installation of two twin ladle furnaces in combination with three VD units for degassing and decarburization.

The result: Increased productivity through arrangement of a ladle furnace and a VD unit each on one track.

Maximum production, low running costs

Customer: Azovstal, Mariupol, Ukraine

Plant type: VD-OB plant, 350 tons heat size

Our solution: Implementation of the largest twin-VD plant worldwide.

The result: Optimum operating costs through the large charge size.

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Completely Integrated Solutions with Siemens VAI:Integrated offerings for higher plant performance

Optimized processes

We lay the foundation for optimized processes with proven, leading products worldwide, including mechanical and technological engineering for metal production, rolling and strip processing as well as process control engineering, drive engineering and power supply. Inte-grated online and offline process models reflect decades of practical experience and help to ensure reliable, reproducible quality.

Our process engineering expertise fuses these products into complete plant solu-tions that also accommodate the upstream and downstream processes. These solu-tions are the basis for optimal resource use, minimized waiting times and reduced maintenance and spare parts costs, as well as wide flexibility with respect to raw materials and the resulting products.

Efficient production control

A further factor for competitive produc-tion is the quality of information process-ing. Production data must be consoli-dated and compared with planning data to ensure optimal production flow.

As a leading supplier for the metals indus-try Siemens VAI offers integrated infor-mation technology across all automation levels – from the sensor to the Enterprise Resource Planning system. Patented solu-tions, such as for direct reduction plants, electric arc furnaces, hot strip mills, profile rolling or processing lines, enable systematic quality assurance, efficient lo-gistics, flexible production planning and scheduling, end-to-end tracking and trac-ing from raw materials to the end product and back, and much more.

Maximized life-cycle returns

Services from Siemens VAI help to ensure high profitability for your plant through-out the entire life-cycle. Reliable project implementation by our specialists sets the course for quick start-up and repay-ment of funds as scheduled.

During the operating phase, preventive maintenance, standardized components and component design that meets the requirements of steel plants help keep maintenance costs low. A reliable spare parts supply – with in-house workshops for key components – ensures high avail-ability. And modernization at the right time guarantees a high level of competi-tiveness and compliance with environ-mental regulations in the future.

Higher availability

Measurable process improvement

Greater productivity

Integrated information technologyReduced life-cycle costs

Maximum protection of your investment

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Perfect integration of every aspect

Completely Integrated Solutions from Siemens VAI – your benefits from an integrated concept:

K High process quality, lower energy costs and in-creased throughput – by taking all process steps into account

K Reproducible high product quality and efficient use of charging materials – thanks to integrated process models

K High enterprise quality, low life-cycle costs and unique investment protection – through flexible production based on metal-specific MES systems, intelligent plant design and integrated planning.

Completely Integrated Solutions offer

a comprehensive range of products

and services, tailored and refined to the

specific requirements of your plant.

The key to this approach is the close inter-

linking of plant construction, process

engineering, electrical and automation

engineering, sensors and actuators, as

well as information technology and

life-cycle services, seamlessly integrated

by Siemens VAI.

www.siemens-vai.com

For further information please contact:

Siemens VAI Metals Technologies GmbH

Schifferstr. 22 47059 Duisburg, Germany

Phone: +49 (203) 3182-0 Fax: +49 (203) 3182-100 E-mail: secondarymetallurgy.metals @siemens.com

Headquarters:

Siemens VAI Metals Technologies GmbH

P.O. Box 4, Turmstr. 44 4031 Linz, Austria

E-mail: contact.metals@siemens.com

The information provided in this brochure contains merely general descriptions or characteristics of performance which in actual case of use do not always apply as described or which may change as a result of further development of the products. An obligation to provide the re-spective characteristics shall only exist if expressly agreed in the terms of contract.

Order No.: E10001-M3-A3-V3-7600

Printed in Germany

Dispo No.: 21661 K No.: 28103

GB WS 03091.5

Subject to change without prior notice

©Siemens AG 2009. All rights reserved.

SIMETAL is a trademark of Siemens AG.CIS = Completely Integrated Solutions