EuroWire March 2025

Corporate News

Blast furnace 4 at ROGESA, as viewed from the water treatment plant

Optimising the durability and wear monitoring of a blast furnace

“We are delighted to continue our partnership with ROGESA on this important project. Our advanced hearth lining technology enables ROGESA to extend the life of their furnace, operate them more safely, and prevent forced shutdowns. After the big re-line in 2003, it makes us proud to continue collaborating here in Dillingen.” operations manager of the blast furnace depart- ment at ROGESA, added, “We greatly appreciate SMS group in Germany for their flexibility and prompt responsiveness to our requests, which were critical to the success of this project. Their expert solutions, par- ticularly their expertise in hearth lining and multi thermocouple sensor probes, ensure the durability and safety of our operations.” SMS group GmbH www.sms-group.com ROGESA www.rogesa.de Dr Jürgen Hochhaus,

including carbon blocks, ceramic cups and refractory materials, which are known for their durability and reliability. Well-designed equipment offers thermal insulation by maintaining the extremely high temperatures required for iron ore reduction. In addition, it offers corrosion resistance by avoiding chemical attacks from molten iron and slag, and structural support by withstanding mechanical stresses and maintaining the furnace’s shape. The multi thermocouple sensor probes are designed to precisely determine and track hearth lining wear, ensuring enhanced monitoring and operational efficiency. The project is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2025, with a shutdown time of only 55 days. It is the latest undertaking in a long-standing relationship between SMS group and ROGESA, with previous collaborations focusing on hot blast stoves and refractory-related projects. Martina Engelmann, project manager at SMS group in Germany, commented,

ROGESA Saar GmbH) in Dillingen, Germany has commissioned SMS group to carry out a comprehensive modernisation of a blast furnace, to extend its service life and ensure effective monitoring of the hearth lining. The contract includes the planning and delivery of the Paul Wurth hearth lining and multi thermocouple sensor probes (MTPs), as well as technical support during the installation phase. The required upgrade is based on measurements taken in 2023, which indicated that the wear on the hearth of the facility’s blast furnace 4 is more advanced than expected, and that the remaining wall thickness is approaching the wear limit. Blast furnace 4, built in the late 1970s, was enlarged and re-lined by Paul Wurth in 2003. It has a usable volume of 2,460m 3 and an output of 6,400 tons per day. The last reline on the blast furnace took place in 2016. For the new furnace lining, SMS plans to use Paul Wurth hearth lining technology, (Roheisengesellschaft

8

www.read-eurowire.com

March 2025