One of the major challenges in steel plate production is efficiently storing the material to streamline vehicle loading and maintain yard organization. In addition to the physical limitations of the equipment responsible for movements within and between yards, this type of problem involves a series of constraints that increase its complexity. This study aims to propose an optimization solution for the crane movement problem in storage yards of a steel facility. To achieve this, a heuristic approach will be presented to determine the next crane movements in a way that minimizes the total number of movements required to complete the loading of plates. The proposed solution has proven to be more efficient than the manual opera-tions performed by crane operators in a real-world case. The results show that the optimization was able to reduce the number of movements required to perform the loadings from five to one in approximately 50% of the cases, in addition to reducing the maximum number of movements from 15 to six.

Steel slab centerline chemical segregation is an important quality control parameter for critical applications such as oil and gas pipelines, pressure vessels and heavy structural components. Prevalent qualitative estimation tools don’t provide am-ple insights into internal homogeneity of finished rolled products and hence a more quantitative estimation of centerline segregation has been attempted using image analysis software developed in-house. Application and usage of this simple estimator tool for geometrical segregation quantification will be discussed in this article.

Crane operation poses significant safety risks in the steelmaking industry, with accidents potentially resulting in severe injuries or fatalities. Traditional training methods, while useful, often fail to provide the immersive and hands-on experience required to prepare operators for real-world challenges. This article introduces two advanced crane simulators designed to bridge this gap: a cab-operated version and a ground-operated remote-controlled version. These simulators replicate crane behaviors such as load swing, acceleration and braking through physics-based interactions, delivering a highly realistic training environment. The simulators are designed to mimic site-specific crane configurations, offering a customizable and adaptable training experience that directly mirrors real-world conditions. By combining advanced virtual environments with tailored hardware, these simulators enhance skill development, reduce operational risks and improve efficiency. Demon-strations of their capabilities and practical training scenarios will highlight their transformative potential in industrial safety training.

To achieve optimization and automation of the converter process, it is important to perform appropriate operations based on internal state information such as the composition of molten metal and slag. However, due to the high temperature and explosive reaction inside the converter, it has been difficult to measure the internal state during processing. Therefore, JFE Steel Corp. has developed a model to estimate the internal state of the converter in real time, aiming to build a cyberphysi-cal system of the converter. This model solves the conventional problems of decreased estimation accuracy caused by unknown disturbances and measurement errors, achieving high-precision and real-time internal state estimation.

Reliable crane operation is essential in industrial settings, where unplanned downtime can disrupt production and pose significant safety risks. This article presents a comprehensive approach to crane monitoring that integrates various vibra-tion-based methodologies. A key focus is placed on capturing data under known operating conditions with minimal latency, achieved through a condition monitoring and analysis system that interfaces directly with crane controls and mill signals. By combining standard vibration analysis for high-speed drives with specialized ultrasonic resonance excitation tech-niques for slow-speed bearings, the system effectively detects early signs of wear in crane drives and hoists. Furthermore, a magnetic rope monitoring system complements the vibration-based solution, identifying both external and internal wire breaks. This multifaceted strategy provides a holistic view of crane health, leading to more accurate diagnostics, timely maintenance interventions and enhanced operational safety.