VAI has developed the MEROS® process (Maximized Emission Reduction Of Sintering) in which dust and harmful metallic and organic components present in sinter offgas are removed in a series of treatment steps to levels previously unattained with conventional gas-treatment techniques. In a number of test campaigns, the technical and economical advantages of this innovative sinter offgascleaning process were verified. voestalpine Stahl subsequently placed an order with VAI for the installation of an industrial MEROS facility to be started-up in August 2007.

A project was started in 2002 to improve the hot metal desulphurisation by ladle treatment, whose underlying mechanism was analyzed by a process model based on fundamentals. This allowed a 10% reduction of reagent consumption. To reduce the treatment costs, calcium carbide was replaced by lime. Further results indicate the need to improve the absorption of reaction products into the slag. Lime post injection resulted in lower final sulfur content and improved slag removal.

Gas-stirred treatment makes the ladle vibrate. Monitoring of the vibration has been studied in details: it is an industrial non-intrusive technique to control the process efficiency. Optimum gas stirring conditions can be defined, in terms of global kinetics of inclusion removal at low vibration level.

The tools of the hot strip mill are reviewed in details: furnace, roughing mill, descalings, finishing mill and coolings involved in the modification of the transverse thermal profile. Industrial databases, numerical simulations and experiences are used to identify the main parameters and their influence. From this analysis actions are defined that could be taken to improve or to preserve the thermal profile.

The FSBA (Flexible Shaft Backing Assemblies) has been developed for a 20-high Sendzimir mill. This new shape control actuator was supported by a shape analysis model based on the distribution of geometrical moment of inertia in the roll axial direction. The shape control range was doubly extended by the introduction of FSBA. It was confirmed on an industrial mill that quarter buckles are suppressed under a wide range of rolling conditions by shape control with FSBA and concave rolls.

An automatic detection system for edge cracks and holes has been successfully installed at the exit of the tin plate mill of the API Basse- Indre plant. This new system is able to detect, analyze and record images of any defect that may be dangerous for the CAL. Since the system has been implemented, Basse-Indre has recorded no breakage neither in the furnace along year 2005, nor at entry, at exit or in the furnace since early 2006.

China Steel Corporation has operated a new reversing cold rolling mill for non grain-oriented silicon steels since the beginning of 2003. The mill stand features hydraulic roll gap setting, intermediate roll axial shifting with CVC technology, work roll and intermediate roll bending systems and multizone cooling equipments. The industrial results are reported in terms of thickness tolerances and flatness.