TPT March 2024

TUBE 2024

Complete inspection and finishing line installed at leading US steel producer

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maintenance and control of operation during work cycle; custom designed rollers according to actual production range; and automatic settings of work parameters (angle of the rollers and work speed). Other features include an anti-mix detection system on all incoming bars, deburring to remove burrs prior to NDT testing and straightness verification performed automatically and tracking of rejected bars. It also offers multi-cutting of the straightened bars into finished lengths including crop cutting. The task is performed by a set of saws equipped with HM blade to optimise cut quality and performances. Position of the saws is automatically adjustable. Automatic bundling – bars will be collected in the shape of hexagonal bundles, which will then be strapped automatically, weighed and sent to the storage chains. The line is equipped with a repair area, which is placed in loop with the NDT test bench and therefore fully integrated within the main line.

MAIR Research has installed and commissioned a complete bar inspection and finishing line for a leading steel producer in the US. The products that will be processed are different alloys of hot rolled and heat treated round black bars employed for a range of applications that include spring steel, tool steel and valve steel. Technical data of bars to be processed are: yield strength with max 1000N/ mm 2 ; diameter: 19 to 90mm; and length: 3.6 to 15.3m. The incoming bars are annealed and arrive as cut from an abrasive disk or shear and are charged via overhead crane into the automatic loader which feeds the finishing line. The layout of the equipment has been studied together with the customer to ensure an optimised production flow minimising off line and manual handling, reduction of changeover time and efficiency considering that it is operative in three

shifts and with a yearly expectation of 200,000 tons. The finishing line consists of the following equipment placed in sequence and interconnected together to achieve an integrated line. Loading system – receives the bundles and is equipped with a descrambler in order to feed one bar at a time downstream. Multiroll straightening machine – suitable to guarantee a finished bar with 1mm/m straightness. The advantages of this machine are: operational costs reduced due to less consumable parts; high productivity; main machine structure composed of welded elements to ensure sturdiness; main structure without columns to ensure easy accessibility to work area for roller replacement, AN average electric car contains around 80kg of copper in various forms. As demand for electric vehicles (EVs) powered by electricity grows, so does the need for quality copper products. As a supplier of upward continuous casting technologies, Upcast offers solutions for this demand. The coils used in EVs, especially the motors, each have numerous hairpin windings that are connected to each other in a process similar to welding. This structure sets the standard for the high electrical conductivity copper being used, as it needs to have extremely good surface quality and high mechanical strength, while being highly weldable. Upcast copper rod is oxygen free, making its weldability

Mair Research www.mair-research.com

Upward continuous casting technologies

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superior to ETP copper products. Copper is also prominently used in wire harnesses, the demands for which are getting stricter as more electronics are installed into the vehicles. Wires must withstand mechanical stress and temperature changes. Upcast units provide copper magnesium and others alloys that can be processed into a cable that is durable, flexible and thin, minimising its weight contribution to the vehicle. Upcast units can also use recycled copper, and melting is performed purely with electricity, which can come from renewable sources.

Upcast Oy www.upcast.com

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MARCH 2024