In November 2000, UGINE&ALZ Genk awarded VAI a contract to upgrade their steelmaking plant. The scope of work included the world's largest stainless steel slab caster designed for an annual output of 1.2 million tons. The existing casting machine had to be replaced within a comprehensive shut-down period of 21 days only to minimize the financial burden due to the production outage. Innovative project management solutions combined with excellent realization resulted in a successful start-up on October 1, 2002, after a shutdown period of only 20 days. Operational results with regard to productivity and quality are discussed.

The technological package SMART®/ASTC, developed by VAI and already applied in many continuous casting plants worldwide, combines automatic strand taper control (ASTC) with hydraulically adjustable SMART®segments. It allows to improve significantly the internal quality of both slabs and blooms. The principle and working mode of these equipments are described and their multiple benefits are presented.

This paper describes the equipments and systems, designed and supplied by VOEST-ALPINE Industrieanlagenbau (VAI), for the extension of the stainless steel production plant of Ugine & ALZ at Genk. The main results obtained during the first year of full operation of this modernized plant are presented.

This paper describes various technological packages developed and implemented by VAI to help steel companies raise product quality, increase reliability and lower operating and maintenance costs for slab and bloom continuous casters.