TPi September 2016

A new structure, and many new developments Marcegaglia reorganises and presents its innovations to the market

The intermediate results of the project, which has been in operation for more than 15 months, were presented at the annual meeting of the Technical Group Steel N.5 (Finishing and Coating) held in the Marcegaglia HQ in Gazoldo degli Ippoliti, in northern Italy. In particular, the experimentation concerns the first line in the manufacturing of stainless steels at the Gazoldo degli Ippoliti plant, as well as the system for the thermal treatment and pickling (of both ferritic and austenitic grade stainless steels). The project has two fundamental objectives: to improve surface quality of the processed products, and to increase line productivity and flexibility of the line at the same time. The intermediate results demonstrated that the two targets have been achieved through the development of an innovative electrolytic pickling process based on alternating current (AC) instead of the direct current (DC) commonly used. The AC electrolytic pickling process can significantly reduce – by up to 50 per cent – the treatment times normally required in conventional processes, on both hot- and cold-rolled products. This highlights how, in the continuous treatment lines for flat rolled products, the alternating current process can be used in order to: • totally or partially replace sandblasting and/or brushing treatment with positive benefits for surface quality with the same productivity and length of line Applied on both hot-rolled and cold-rolled AISI 3XX and 4XX, it significantly reduces the pickling times, both electrolytic and chemical, while obtaining a much better surface from an aesthetic point of view. Advanced high strength steels (AHSS) for the automotive sector The future of the automotive industry is concerned with steel. It focuses attention on advanced high-strength steels that respond positively, in terms of production and performance, to the requirements of the sector: weight/energy efficiency, safety and costs. • increase, with the same length of production line, the productivity of the pickling section

It is through innovation that leadership expresses itself. It is an affirmation of the intrinsic values of a company that continues to transform itself so as to be an ever-closer partner facing the requirements of the market, shaping steel with innovative processes and developing innovative products, not only in terms of new solutions, but also the improvement of current solutions. Marcegaglia has been able to transform itself, creating a new business structure divided into three new companies, each dedicated to specific products – Marcegaglia Carbon Steel (for carbon steel tubes and flat products), Marcegaglia Specialties (for stainless steel tubes and flat products, and cold-drawn bars – both stainless and carbon steel), and Marcegaglia Plates (for the manufacture of heavy quarto plates). In this way it can enhance its role as a key player in the international steel scene, sustaining its role with a commitment to transform itself in terms of R&D. In particular, the company is concentrating on flat steel products that will be on show during the upcoming EuroBLECH 2016 in Hanover, Germany, where Marcegaglia will be present among the steel leaders (Hall 17, Stand B34). Project ACE-PICK: alternating current electrolytic pickling process A clear example of this innovation is the research and experimentation conducted by Marcegaglia and Centro Sviluppo Materiali within the EU-financed project ‘First worldwide full-scale demonstration of alternating current (AC) electrolytic pickling on carbon and stainless coils (ACE-PICK)’. I t is now one year since the launch of Marcegaglia’s new organisation, which separated its activities with carbon steels from those with stainless steels, and created three new companies dedicated to specific sectors – Marcegaglia Carbon Steel, Marcegaglia Specialties and Marcegaglia Plates. Now the Italy-based company is also strengthening its position in terms of production, presenting to the market several innovations both in processes and in products in the flat steel sector.

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TUBE PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL September 2016

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