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Siemens to Replace, Upgrade Three Converters for voestalpine Stahl

11/29/2007 - Siemens Metals Technologies will exchange and modernize three LD steelmaking converters and peripheral facilities at voestalpine Stahl's integrated steel plant in Linz.

Austrian steel producer voestalpine Stahl GmbH has awarded Siemens Metals Technologies (MT) a contract to exchange and modernize three LD steelmaking converters and peripheral facilities at the company's integrated steel plant in Linz. The order volume for Siemens exceeds 30 million euros.
 

To replace each converter within the quick, 49-day period, Siemens MT will apply a new technique to strengthen the converters’ foundations.
 
The top section of the existing converter foundations—which have to be renewed in order to accommodate the increased size and tapping weight of the new converters—will be sheared off with a diamond-studded cable saw and replaced with a new reinforced foundation cap.
 
With this solution, the total replacement of the existing foundations will not be necessary.
Siemens MT will dismantle the existing converters and install new converters equipped with a moveable skirt as well as new alloying-charging systems for alloy additions during tapping. The converter vessels’ capacity will be increased from approximately 160 tons to 180 tons.

 
voestalpine Stahl GmbH commissioned Siemens MT to replace the existing three 160-tonne-capacity LD converter plants with three 180-tonne-capacity converter plants as part of a campaign to expand its production of crude steel to approximately six million tonnes per year. The larger converter capacity combined with higher operational availability will allow the company to increase its total crude-steel output by approximately 10%.
 
Siemens MT’s project scope includes engineering plus the supply and installation of equipment, electrics and basic automation. Equipment supply for each converter plant includes the vessel shell, trunnion ring, support bearing, and 4-pinion tilting drive system. Siemens MT will also supply VAI-CON* Stopper system for minimized slag carry-over, a waste-gas hood with moveable skirt, and the converter doghouse. The converters will also be outfitted with maintenance-free, highly compact VAI-CON CD Link suspension systems, which are particularly suited for sites where extremely constricted space conditions prevail.
 
The three alloy-charging and ladle alloy-addition systems will be equipped with CaC2 (calcium carbide)-charging lines to promote deoxidation of the crude steel during tapping. Siemens will also provide advisory services for onsite project activities and the converter start-ups in addition to training.
 
Each converter will be replaced during ongoing production operations, within a period of only 49 days in a time period from April to November 2009, coinciding with the planned shutdown of the No. 5 and No. 6 Blast Furnaces (for relining and upgrading). Siemens MT will accomplish this short implementation time by applying a new technique to strengthen the converters’ foundations. The top section of the existing converter foundations—which have to be renewed in order to accommodate the increased size and tapping weight of the new converters—will be sheared off with a diamond-studded cable saw and replaced with a new reinforced foundation cap. With this solution, the total replacement of the existing foundations will not be necessary.
 
Restart of the modernized converters is scheduled in steps for April 2009, September 2009 and November 2009 respectively.
 
*VAI-CON is a registered trademark of Siemens AG in certain countries.
 
voestalpine Stahl GmbH, a company of the listed voestalpine Group, will produce more than 5.5 million tonnes of crude steel in 2007. The steel will be processed to high-quality coated and non-coated flat-steel products that will be sold as sheets, coils and plates for use primarily in the European automotive, household-appliance and building-supply industries.
 
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. In fiscal 2007 (to September 30) I&S employed a total of 37,000 people worldwide and achieved total sales of EUR 8.894 billion, according to U.S. GAAP.