Sheet Processing and Finishing Lines — A Practical Training Seminar
Conference Details: 17–21 March 2019, Mobile, Ala., USA
No. of Attendees: 115, representing 27 different facilities
To kick off the conference Chad Donovan, SMS group Inc., gave an overview of sheet processing, which was elaborated upon throughout other presentations. This covered not only pickling, annealing and galvanizing, but gave significant time to review skinpass and temper rolling, leveling and slitting. This section of the seminar examined not only the process line equipment but also the common procedures for operation.
Focusing next on a few of the technologies associated with finishing lines led to a discussion of strip cleaning, corrosion and surface treatments presented by Stephanie Williamson, Quaker Chemical Corp. This was followed by some equipment technology highlights with welders, coil marking and surface inspection systems.
Another great feature of practical training seminars held by AIST are panel discussions in which attendees are able to ask questions of the technical and operational experts. This year the seminar was co-located with the Galvanizing Technology Committee meeting, so both groups were able to join together for the panel discussion where Mark Marietti, AK Steel – Dearborn Works, was the moderator. The panelists were Abhilash Dash, Nucor Steel–Decatur LLC; Stavros Fountoulakis, ArcelorMittal Global R&D; Nikhil Kulkarni, Steel Dynamics Inc. – Flat Roll Group Jeffersonville Plant; and Kevin Siebeneck, U. S. Steel – Great Lakes Works.
Representatives from AM/NS Calvert LLC gave a few presentations highlighting the strengths of the facility. Dale Stacy and Alec Glenn gave a safety leadership talk discussing everyone’s individual roles in safety every day and how to create and sustain a culture around safe practices. Chris Firth presented the on-site acid regeneration plant at the Calvert site and how it has been proven successful. Finally, Thomas Brennan and Shawn Roscoe gave an overview of the facility before the group headed to AM/NS Calvert LLC for a tour.
The AIST Rolling & Processing Technology Division would like to thank AM/NS Calvert LLC for allowing the attendees to tour their facility. The next Sheet Processing and Finishing Lines seminar will be held Fall 2020 in the Ohio area.