The company said the new system has support for qualifying batches and slabs for quality control across the oxygen converter, secondary metallurgy and continuous casting plants. Control of quality deviations is expected to improve employee decision-making, allow for faster and more confident actions, and recommend feasible alternative quality grades. 

“The solution ensures efficiency, compliance and the highest quality standards, while building an agile, future-proof digital platform needed to realize our ambition of becoming a green, clean and circular steel producer,” said Erik Hermans, project lead at Tata Smart Steel Factory.

Tata Steel Nederlands said the implementation supports its sustainability goals for a more circular and resource-efficient operation. It prevents or reduces production of incorrect material while maintaining high quality. 

With the entire IJmuiden steel plant now running on the new integrated PSI system, the deployment of heat and slab qualification is expected to be a strategic advantage.

The company said the unification will make future transitions to new green steel installations including a direct reduced iron plant both easier and faster.