Tinplate Mill Products Technology Committee Activities

Cold Sheet Rolling Technology Committee (CSRTC) and Tinplate Mill Products Technology Committee (TMPTC) Joint Meeting - 23–24 October 2024, Covington, Ky., USA

The group discussed membership growth — particularly with the addition of 48 new members to the CSRTC and five to the TMPTC. Key agenda items included AISTech 2025 session planning, with abstracts already selected and session chairs Ken Hutter and Frank Beddings volunteering to lead the CSRTC sessions. Both committees refined their AISTech 2026 Call for Papers text, emphasizing advancements in cold rolling and tinplate processes. The group reviewed the Cold Mill Roundup and the currently under-development Pickle Line Roundup. Hutter and Brian Shaw are collaborating to ensure comprehensive data is collected and prepared for release by early 2025. 

Updates on recent training sessions were shared, noting high attendance and growth for Cold Rolling Fundamentals and Advanced Cold Rolling: 201 Training events. The Sheet Processing and Finishing Lines training seminar scheduled for March 2025 in Nashville, Tenn., USA, is now open for registration. Plans are in the works for a Cold Mill International Study Tour in fall 2025 potentially touring European producer plants. 

The decarbonization group, led by Deni Bellai, provided updates on available resources, including webinars and a strategic plan for AIST members. 

Presentations concluded the meeting, covering advancements in steel grades, iron concentration measurement, advanced high-strength steel, cold-rolled and electrical steels. 

The TMPTC met 26 March 2024, Warrendale, Pa., USA.

The meeting began with a tour of ANDRITZ Metals USA Inc. at its Ambridge mill services and Shapemeter roll revamp facility. Following lunch at AIST’s headquarters, discussions commenced, covering crucial topics such as finalizing AISTech sessions, officer nominations, and updates from various subcommittees including Digital Transformation and Decarbonization.

Presentations focused on tin mill products, welders at the tinplate mill, shape roll technologies, and tinplate thickness measurement, fostering informative discussions among attendees. Plans for a future Tinplate Line Roundup and tinplate mill Technology Training Conference were also deliberated.

The TMPTC met 29–30 November 2023, Hamilton, Ont., Canada.

The Tinplate Mill Products Technology Committee met for a dynamic session addressing key advancements and challenges within the tinplate industry. Chair Hossein Sayyar opened the meeting, extending a warm welcome to participants. The agenda featured diverse presentations, each contributing valuable insights to the committee’s collective knowledge.

Mayra Díaz del Olmo Oliveira of the International Tin Association Ltd. commenced with a discussion on the “Tin Code” and sustainability initiatives, emphasizing responsible mineral sourcing. This set the stage for a broader conversation on leveraging tin supplier information for risk management and sustainable practices. Brian Prybell of Quaker Houghton delved into the history and benefits of MSA plating, presenting it as a superior choice in terms of cost, environmental impact, quality and operating parameters.

Eric Almquist of Star Tool & Die provided a technical overview of non-woven fabric rolls, detailing their strengths and weaknesses in various tinplate processing lines. Chris Carlson of Steelscape shared insights into creating a world-class safety culture, emphasizing motivation and performance. Li Sun of ArcelorMittal Dofasco G.P. presented a comprehensive analysis of defects on tinplate products, covering lab instruments, defect analysis procedures, common defects and real-world examples. The meeting concluded with Deni Bellai of Miebach exploring welding options for coil joining tinplate, comparing resistance welding and laser welding methods.

The breadth of topics discussed and the depth of expertise shared underscored the committee’s commitment to fostering innovation, sustainability, and excellence within the tinplate mill products industry. The committee looks forward to building on these insights in future meetings and contributing to the continued advancement of the industry.

The TMPTC met 18 May 2016, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.

The TMPTC met 6–7 October 2015, Niagara Falls, Ont., Canada.

The TMPTC’s AISTech 2017 Call for Papers topic was finalized.

The outline of a Tinplate Mill Roundup was established, with Dave White volunteering to take the lead in finalizing it before circulation to all the mills for completion.

The following individuals gave technical presentations:

• Jacko Pijper of Magneto Special Anodes explained various titanium and tin anodes. He discussed the process of preparing anodes, including chemical etching, alcohol application, stove activation, handling and storage.

• Greg Gutmann of ISRA Vision gave a technical overview of surface inspection solutions, including the differences between area scan and line scan to find strip defects and the different fields of view. 

• Harve Anderson of Rotadyne discussed what it means to have roller reliability by tracking each individual roll’s usage. 

• Matt Hanley of Vail Rubber explained the various spray weld methods being used today.

The TMPTC met 6 May 2015, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.

 The following officers were elected:

• Chair — David White, ArcelorMittal Dofasco Inc.

• Vice chair — Dwain Hultburg, Ohio Coatings Inc.

• Papers co-chairs — Frank Goodwin, International Zinc Association, and Joe McDermid, McMaster University

• Program planning chair — Eric Almquist, Star Tool & Die Works Inc.

Meeting Highlights:
David White shared his vision for the TMPTC: focus on benefits related to the operators running and maintaining equipment on the shop floor in a “bottom-up, grassroots” movement. His hope is to make meeting content pragmatic.