The companies said the mold expert fiber will enable it to monitor the area where slab surface quality is determined. This allows for detection of stickers, cold spots and longitudinal cracks.

The technology also features real-time feedback on meniscus shape, mold powder behavior and taper accuracy. It uses fiber optic–based temperature measurement and supports more than 10,000 measuring points per mold. 

The purpose of mold expert fiber is to show data previously unavailable including meniscus shape measurements and information on liquid steel movement inside the mold. It also alerts operators of caster-mold breakouts even during the start of casting, the companies said.