WCA September 2023

Industry News

Sikora among Germany’s innovation leaders Bremen-based Sikora AG has been awarded as “Germany’s innovation leader 2023” by the FAZ-Institut. For the study, the worldwide patent applications of companies operating in Germany were analysed. As a measuring and control technology company, Sikora is again among the winners this year. The survey evaluated patent families from more than 500 technology and knowledge areas, looking at not only the number of patents submitted in the last ten years, but also their relevance. Index points were given for the companies analysed, taking into account whether the invention influences other inventions and how often a patent cites another patent family. The less often this is the case, the more innovative the patent is perceived. Sikora had already been awarded as innovation leader last year, and can now consolidate its success. In addition to the renewed award in the “Measuring, testing” category, Sikora convinced in “Processing of plastics”. Each year, Sikora invests around ten per cent of its turnover in the research and development of new measuring and control technology, as well as inspection, analysis and sorting systems for quality control during the production of wires and cables, hoses, tubes, pipes and sheets, optical fibres or plastics. Sikora AG www.sikora.net Chinese special steel producer Xinyu Iron & Steel Co Ltd (XISCO) has signed a contract with Friedrich Kocks GmbH & Co KG for the supply of an RSB® 370++/4 in 5.0 design. The reducing and sizing block will be part of the company’s new rolling mill complex in Xinyu City, China. XISCO is a subsidiary of Baosteel group, a steel producer with annual production of around 120mn tons. Through further acquisitions, this output will be increased to around 200mn tons by 2025. With more than 32,000 employees, XISCO accounts for 10mn tons of speciality steels per year. In XISCO’s new rolling mill, a Kocks three-roll RSB will balance quality with economic results. The new RSB 370++/4, designed according to the individual requirements of XISCO, will be located as a finishing block after 22 stands in H/V arrangement in a 560,000 t/a SBQ mill. It will produce straight bars onto the cooling bed within a finished size range of Ø 20 to 90mm with high dimensional tolerance. The scope of supply includes remote control for stand and guide adjustments, equipment for the roll shop and proprietary Kocks software solutions. Commissioning of the RSB is scheduled for the end of 2023. Friedrich Kocks GmbH & Co KG www.kocks.de XISCO chooses core technology for new SBQ bar mill line

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September 2023