SMS GROUP GMBH

A device and method for producing a rolled metal strip including a rolling mill which plastically deforms the metal strip by rolling during transport along a conveying direction; a cooling device with variable cooling capacity, which is downstream of the rolling mill in the conveying direction and cools the metal strip; a straightening machine which is downstream of the cooling device in the conveying direction and bends the metal strip into a desired shape; a first measuring point, arranged between the rolling mill and the cooling device, with a flatness measuring device measuring topological properties of the metal strip; a second measuring point, arranged between the cooling device and the straightening machine, with a further flatness measuring device measuring topological properties of the metal strip; and a controller.

Tracing forged parts over their production process includes: capturing process parameters of a forging process; marking a workpiece with a first identifier; storing the captured process parameters and the first identifier in a database; reading the identifier from the workpiece produced in the previous process step; capturing process parameters during subsequent process steps; storing the process parameters of the subsequent process steps in the database for the read identifier, if legibility of the first identifier of the workpiece remains during the subsequent process step; marking the workpiece produced in the subsequent process step with a further identifier, if legibility of the first identifier of the workpiece does not remain during the subsequent process step of the production process; and storing the process parameters of the subsequent process step together with the further identifier and process parameters of the previous process steps and the first identifier in the database.

A metallurgical production plant has a plurality of plant parts. An input quality window defines required quality characteristics of the input product to each plant part. An output quality window defines permissible quality characteristics of the output product of each plant part. The output quality window of an upstream plant part corresponds to the input quality window of the downstream plant part. A process window defines the setting values that can be implemented by the respective plant part. Each plant part detects the current state by sensors and adapts the process window to the detected current state. A system for controlling the production plant determines setting values for the respective plant automation unit of each plant part. The setting values are selected within the process windows such that the product produced in the production plant meets the quality characteristics required by the input quality windows and output quality windows.

A system for controlling a production plant includes a plant automation unit for monitoring and control of the production process within the production plant. A production planning system has information concerning the products to be produced. A model generator generates at least one prediction model for products produced in the production plant. The model generator takes into account the results of the monitoring of the production plant when generating the at least one prediction model. A production optimizer determines an optimized production process within the production plant on the basis of data from the plant automation unit, the production planning system, and the prediction model generated by the model generator. The production optimizer takes into account the production-related specifications of the individual plant parts. A production plant control unit generates target specifications for the plant automation unit on the basis of the optimized production process determined by the production optimizer.

A process for operating a thermal treatment line for the flexible thermal treatment of metal pre-products, a thermal treatment line configured and suitable for carrying out the process, and a casting-rolling mill and a process for operating a casting-rolling mill having a thermal treatment line are disclosed. In comparison with previous thermal treatment lines and processes for operating said thermal treatment lines, the disclosed thermal treatment line allows flexible operation. Emissions and production costs in the process are thereby reduced.

A metal strip is guided on transportation rollers through a strip treatment installation. The installation includes successive strip movement control devices along a transportation direction. The strip movement control devices detect and adjust the position of the strip transverse to the transportation direction. A method for operating the installation includes: detecting the position of the strip transverse to the transportation direction by sensors of upstream strip movement control devices; identifying properties that influence the position of the strip transverse to the transportation direction of the strip by the sensors; assigning the identified properties of the strip to corresponding points or segments of the strip; and proactively adjusting the position of the strip transverse to the transportation direction at downstream strip movement control devices based on the properties for the corresponding points or segments of the strip identified by the upstream strip movement control devices.

A method and a device for guiding and centering a metallic rolling stock in a rolling mill having at least one assembly that is arranged in a rolling line and at least one rolling mill stand for shaping the rolling stock are disclosed. The method includes the use of lateral guide means, which exert a lateral force onto the moving rolling stock at different locations of the rolling line, wherein the method further includes the process of centering the inflow of the rolling stock ahead of a first assembly and/or ahead of a first rolling mill stand of the rolling mill using first lateral guide means and the process of aligning rolling stock downstream transversely to the rolling line using second lateral guide means, wherein the process of centering the inflow includes a funnel-shaped, flat guiding of the rolling stock and a point-shaped guiding of the rolling stock.

A method allows monitoring a component of a cooling system in a rolling mill, the cooling system including the component being used to apply a coolant on a rolled stock to be cooled. To apply a coolant on the rolling stock with a desired target pressure or target volume flow, not only when the component is in the new state but also with the component in the used state, the cooling system provides for the acquisition of actual characteristic data for the component during and/or after the period of use of the component. These actual characteristic data are compared with predetermined target characteristic data, in order to determine a possible characteristic data deviation A, which represents a malfunction of the component with respect to its new state. The method then provides various measures for minimizing the characteristic data deviation, if this exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

A method for controlling or regulating the temperature of a steel strip in hot forming in a hot strip mill. A superordinate open-loop or closed-loop controller has a process model that predetermines the temperature development of the hot strip. The target values of the individual units are adjusted based on this predetermined temperature development.

The disclosure relates to a device ( 10 ) and a method for machining at least one surface of a continuous strip material (B) made of non-ferrous metals, which in particular comprises aluminum or aluminum alloys or consists of such materials. A rotating roller brush ( 12 ) is used, the roller length of which can be brought into contact with a surface of the strip material (B). Such roller brush ( 12 ) has a diameter of 200 mm to 1,000 mm and can rotate at a rotational speed of 100 to 3,600 rpm using an assigned motor drive ( 14 ).