Arvedi ESP first thin slab endless casting and rolling results

Abstract

The Italian steel producer Acciaieria Arvedi SpA operates a minimill for flat rolled products with a single casting line (maximum width, 1300 mm) in Cremona, Italy, with an annual output of 1·3 million tonnes per year of flat products using inline strip production (ISP) technology, patented by Arvedi. Following this positive experience with its continuous thin slab casting and rolling process, improved in several stages over the years and resulting in a stable production unit of high quality hot rolled strip, it was decided to invest in a new line adopting endless strip production (ESP) technology, also patented by Arvedi, a direct evolution of ISP. Owing to its highly compact layout with a total length of ∼180 m, lower investment costs are incurred for an Arvedi ESP line compared with conventional thin slab casting and direct rolling plants. Production costs are also noticeably lower than those of other thin slab plants and also of the ISP plant already operating in Cremona. Productivity of the ESP plant, based on a single casting line, will be ∼2 million tonnes per year for the first phase and a possible increase in mass flow from the caster may take capacity up to 3 million tonnes per year. Total energy and water consumption of the Arvedi ESP process is very low compared with that of a conventional casting and rolling process: depending on the final product, energy consumption will be 50–70% lower. Owing to endless rolling operations, the production of strip with uniform and repeatable mechanical properties will be possible along the entire strip width and length and with the line's ability to produce ultrathin hot rolled strip gauges of 0·8 mm (and lower), a subsequent cold rolling process will no longer be necessary for many strip applications. The Arvedi ESP plant is the first example of fully continuous production from liquid steel to hot rolled coil on the downcoiler in 4·5 min, and the Cremona plant is the reference plant (master plant) for sales of future ESP lines. The aim of this presentation is to provide data relative to the new plant and the first production results of the endless casting and rolling line. A contract was signed in 2006 with Siemens VAI as principal process and plant supplier of the new plant, and construction was completed in Cremona in autumn 2008. Start-up was completed in the first half of 2009.