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Siemens and CRM Enter Agreement for Mulpic Heavy-Plate Cooling Systems

11/08/2007 - Siemens VAI Metals Technologies UK and the Centre de Recherches Metallurgiques sign exclusive Technology License Agreement for the supply and development of “Mulpic” systems.

Siemens VAI Metals Technologies UK Ltd. and the Centre de Recherches Metallurgiques (CRM), Liège, Belgium, have signed an exclusive Technology License Agreement for the supply and development of “Mulpic” systems.
 
The Agreement formalizes and extends the partnership that has existed between the two companies for many years. That relationship resulted in the joint development of intensive cooling systems for plate mills, which were subsequently sold to plate producers worldwide. Further development of the Mulpic product will take place within the framework of this partnership, thereby ensuring that the full potential of this technology can be made accessible to rolling mill operators.
 
Microalloyed heavy plate ranks are among the most versatile materials for demanding applications such as shipbuilding or pipe production. Production of such plate requires precise monitoring of the rolling process as well as precise control of the subsequent cooling procedure.
 
Mulpic technology enables plate mill operators to produce the complete spectrum of microalloyed materials—including API (American Petroleum Institute) steel grades—using the conventional “in line” process route.
The process manipulates the heavy plate’s cooling profile immediately after the plate mill stand, using techniques such as precipitation hardening or grain refinement for precise control of the plate’s metallurgical properties.
 
The Mulpic system incorporates features such as water crown control, edge masking and head and tail masking to ensure uniform cooling of the entire heavy plate. Specially designed height adjustable top headers and optimized valves with flow control valves provide a wide range of cooling power and thus ensure greater operational flexibility.
 
Mulpic process automation is based on a mathematical model. Self-learning and adaptive functions result in high precision and outstanding uniformity during the cooling process. The original Mulpic concept machines developed by CRM are in operation at Dillinger Hütte, Germany, and SSAB Oxelösund in Sweden. Siemens’ latest references for Mulpic technology include two systems with Korean steel producer Posco, plus systems at the Shagang and Wuyang plate mills in China, and at Duferco Clabecq in Belgium. A number of new systems are currently under construction.
 
Metals Technologies (MT), a division of the Siemens Industrial Solutions and Services (I&S) Group, is one of the world's leading engineering and plant-building companies for the iron and steel industry as well as for the flat-rolling sector of the aluminum industry and for open-cast mining. MT, which was created from the integration of Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau, Linz/Austria, plus the electrical engineering product business and automation solutions of Siemens, provides a comprehensive range of supplies and services for all related technological processes and integrated automation solutions for the entire life-cycle of metallurgical plants.
 
The Siemens Industrial Solutions and Services Group (I&S) is the integrator of systems and solutions for industrial and infrastructure facilities and global service provider for the plant and projects business covering planning, installation, operation and the entire life cycle. I&S uses its own products and systems and process technologies in order to enhance productivity and improve competitiveness of companies in the sectors of metallurgy, water treatment, pulp and paper, oil and gas, marine engineering, open-cast mining, airport logistics, postal automation, intelligent traffic systems and industrial services. In fiscal 2006 (to September 30) I&S employed a total of 36,200 people worldwide and achieved total sales of EUR 8.819 billion, according to U.S. GAAP.