Ladle Furnaces (LF) for High-Quality Steel Production

Secondary Metallurgy with Ladle Furnaces

The ladle furnaces (LF) from Primetals Technologies are essential in managing the production sequence while ensuring high steel qualities. Placed between the melting and casting processes, this secondary metallurgy plant offers multiple functionalities, enabling customers to produce the exact steel qualities required for seamless continuous casting operations. They serve as a perfect unit for steel grade fine-tuning and act as an ideal buffer to match production times.

The use of ladle furnaces in secondary metallurgy has proven to be a vital tool for producing high-quality steel due to their wide range of applications. Ladle furnaces can be utilized for alloying, heating, desulfurization, removing, and/or modifying inclusions, and acting as a buffer in melt shop logistics. Installing a ladle furnace between the melting and casting areas is crucial for ensuring quality and productivity improvements in steelmaking. Ladle furnace arrangements include single stations with fixed or swiveling gantries, ladle cars, turrets, and twin stations with two roofs and one swiveling electrode gantry. The compact design is tailored to meet customer needs, offering high heating rates and low electrode consumption.

Benefits of a Ladle Furnace from Primetals Technologies

Ensures high steel quality through precise alloying and desulfurization
Acts as a buffer in the melt shop logistics, enhancing operational efficiency
Compact design minimizes space requirements while maximizing accessibility
Offers high heating rates and low electrode consumption for cost-effective operations
Facilitates seamless, continuous casting operations by matching production times
Provides flexibility with single and twin station arrangements to suit various operational needs

Twin type Ladle Furnace in operation

Single type Ladle Furnace

Ladle Furnace dedusting

Twin Ladle Furnace at Carinox

Digitalization

Automation & Digital Solutions

Automation

LF/LTS Optimizer

Boost steel production with the Ladle Furnaces and Ladle Treatment Stands Optimizer. Achieve stable quality, reduce costs, and enhance efficiency.

Melt Expert

Optimize Electric Arc Furnaces (EAF) and Ladle Furnace (LF) operations and reduce energy costs, improve productivity, and ensure high-quality steel production.

Steelmaking Process Assistant

Boost steelmaking efficiency with the digital Steelmaking Process Assistant. Reduce errors, standardize processes, and enhance product quality.

Ladle Tracker

Boost efficiency with the Ladle Tracker. Track ladle location, manage thermal conditions, and optimize maintenance in real time for better steel production.

Monitor

Ladle Position Monitor

Enhance steel production with automated ladle identification. Improve equipment utilization, reduce downtime, and ensure safety with advanced 3D and RFID technologies.

Bag Break Monitor

Enhance plant efficiency with the Bag Break Monitor. Detect filter bag damage early, reduce emissions, and optimize maintenance processes for increased reliability and regulatory compliance.

Bag Cleaning Monitor

Enhance bag filter performance with 24/7 acoustic monitoring. Reduce downtime, save resources, and optimize maintenance in steel plants.

Robotics

LiquiRob: Advanced Robotic Solution

LiquiRob ensures operator safety and boosts steel production efficiency. Automate tasks like sampling, inspections, and measurements with precision.

Digitalization

Central Operation Cockpit

Streamline steel plant operations with real-time monitoring, automated alerts, and advanced tools for safety, efficiency, and consistent quality.

ALEX: Asset Life Expert

Monitor condition, detect failures early, and optimize maintenance with Asset Life Expert (ALEX) for steel plants.

Through-Process Quality Control

Ensure top-quality steel production with TPQC. Leverage real-time data, predictive analytics, and defect prevention for enhanced efficiency and precision.

MAT: Maintenance Asset Technology

Leverage advanced Maintenance Asset Technology (MAT) to optimize equipment performance, reduce downtime, and improve operational efficiency.

Production Management Liquid & Solid

Optimize steel production with Production Management Liquid and Solid, offering cross-plant planning, quality control, and logistics integration for enhanced efficiency.

Online Heat Scheduler

Optimize meltshop operations with the Online Heat Scheduler, offering dynamic planning, reactive scheduling, and reduced energy consumption for steel production.

Energy Management System

The energy management system enhances operational efficiency through predictive algorithms to optimize energy use at ironmaking plants, steel plants and rolling mills.

The Virtual Plant

Train operators and test automation systems with a digital twin. Enhance skills, ensure system reliability, and enable fast start-ups in steel production.

Metals Business Intelligence

Empower steel production with Metals Business Intelligence, offering data-driven insights, customizable dashboards, and streamlined decision-making tools.

Electrification

Medium-Voltage Power Supply

Medium-Voltage Power Supply, Substations, and Transformers

Medium-Voltage Drives and Motors

The customizable dimensions of medium-voltage drives and motors enhance flexibility and adaptability. Additionally, their design minimizes distortion of the supply grid. Combined with a robust and durable construction, these features make them ideal for the various demands of steel plants.

Digital Power Substation

Optimize energy use and reliability with the Digital Power Substation. Leverage real-time analytics, predictive maintenance, and scalable architecture for steel and aluminum plants.

Low-Voltage Drives and Motors

With various applications throughout the steel industry, low-voltage drives and motors enhance product quality and ensure optimal plant productivity.

Static Synchronous Compensator (STATCOM)

The static synchronous compensator (STATCOM) is a power quality and harmonics management system that enhances steel plant energy performance, reduces operational expenses, and ensures compliance with IEC and utility standards.

Digitalization