IoT-Plattformen treiben grüne Transformation im Stahlmarkt

Ein systematisches Energiemanagement kann die Energieeffizienz in Unternehmen des Stahlmarktes fortlaufend erhöhen sowie den Energieverbrauch und die damit verbundenen Treibhausgasemissionen mindern. Basis für jedes Energiemanagementsystem ist das Messen. Die Kaltenbach.Solutions GmbH als führender Anbieter von Performance-Management-Systemen im Stahlmarkt hat nun seine bekannten BoosterBOXen zur Performance-Messung an Maschinen um EnergyBOXen erweitert.

Durch die Kombination aus IoT-basiertem Performance- und Energie-Messen werden Potentiale umfassend transparent gemacht. Mittlerweile unterhalten eine Vielzahl von Unternehmen der Stahlbranche Energiemanagementsystem gemäß der ISO 50.001. Basis für ein effizientes Energiemanagementsystem ist das Messen der relevanten Kennzahlen für Ströme,

Leistungen und Verbräuche

Die energetische Betrachtung ist eine Seite der Medaille. Am Ende geht es darum, die aufgewendete Energie so effizient wie möglich in relevante Produktionsergebnisse zu transformieren. Für Maschinen in der Stahlbearbeitung bedeutet das einerseits die Maschinen-Performance zu steigern, andererseits den Energieverbrauch zu senken – zwei Seiten ein und derselben Medaille.

Die KALTENBACH.SOLUTIONS GmbH unterstützt Unternehmen der Stahlbranche mithilfe IoT-basierter Gesamtlösungen. Sie vereint alle relevanten Bereiche vom Performance-Management über das Order-Management, das Maschinen-Monitoring bis hin zum Energy-Monitoring auf einer integrierten digitalen Branchen-Plattform. Diese ist modular aufgebaut und passt sich an die kundenspezifischen Bedürfnisse, Prioritäten und jeweiligen Rahmenbedingungen an.

Quelle und Foto: KALTENBACH.SOLUTIONS GmbH

05.05.2021 von Hubert Hunscheidt

Thyssenkrupp opens major logistics centre

Thyssenkrupp Schulte, the German steel distribution unit of thyssenkrupp Materials Services, has started operating a new logistics centre in Rotenburg, Lower Saxony.
 
It has invested around €60 million ($72m) in the new logistics site, Kallanish learns from the company. This makes it one of the group’s biggest projects in recent decades and points the way to the future of the materials business, it claims. The entire process chain has a high level of automation and digitisation, and means to serve as a blueprint for other sites in the future.

The layout of the site is aligned with the optimum flow of materials and no longer has to take into account the ideal loading sequence of the trucks, as was previously the case. Driverless transport systems move the goods directly to the truck, which is loaded in bays at ground level, the company explains. The time-consuming process of moving from one loading point to the next in the hall, which was common in the past, is no longer necessary. As a result, several trucks can be dispatched at the same time.

The inhouse-developed IIoT platform – known as “toii” – is the heart of the digital processes at the site. By connecting the plants digitally, data is exchanged directly without any manual intermediate steps. As a result, the materials flow is controlled in line with demand. The centre was completed after around a year of construction, and comprises 36,000m² of warehouse space where around 20,000 tonnes of materials like steel or aluminium can be stored.

Christian Koehl Germany

Thyssenkrupp improves emissions footprint of Dortmund galv line

Thyssenkrupp Steel Europe will upgrade the combustion system of its hot-dip galvanizing line FBA 8 in Dortmund.

The order for delivery, assembly and commissioning of 195 modernised self-recuperative burners has recently been placed with WS Wärmeprozesstechnik. The newly implemented heating system will provide drastically lower emissions, Kallanish learns from the supplier company. It claims that the heating system will achieve exceptionally low NOx emissions due to a proven double P-tube design and its patented “Flox” combustion process. The retrofit is to be completed by mid-2022.

The order complements the construction of an all-new galv line next to FBA 8, which is projected to start operating this year. Together with another colour-coating line, up to 2 million tonnes of coated strip will then be processed annually in Dortmund. According to WS, the technology employed is suitable for a future with green combustion gases. After the conversion, approximately 800 low emissions burners will be in operation at the Dortmund facility.

WS aims at providing “solutions for all continuously operated strip lines which can reliably attain NOx emissions well below 100 mg/Nm³, with simultaneously high combustion efficiency over 80%”, says company president Joachim G. Wünning.

Christian Koehl Germany

E-commerce platform Metalshub raises $11m funding

Metalshub, the digital trading platform for metals, has completed a financing round that has netted $11 million, Kallanish learns from the Düsseldorf-based company.

The round was led by growth venture capital firm Acton Capital, with participation from existing investors Point Nine, Chromo Invest and several business angels. Using the fresh capital and the strong momentum of a record year, Metalshub intends to expand beyond Europe and targets a revenue of $1 billion by the end of 2021.

Metalshub claims that so far 1,100 companies have participated in activity on the platform, reaching more than $750 million in trade since its launch in 2017. The investment follows a quantum leap year in which turnover increased fivefold and in which it published its first price indices. Steelmakers Outokumpu, Saarstahl, Dillinger and Swiss Steel have in recent months moved their raw materials purchasing onto the platform.

Christian Koehl Germany

Booming demand boosts Tata Steel Europe performance

Tata Steel Europe saw performance increase significantly during the fourth fiscal quarter through March, thanks to a jump in demand, Kallanish notes.

Deliveries increased 17% quarter-on-quarter and 3% year-on-year in the March quarter to almost 2.5mt. Ebitda jumped to $125 million.

Crude steel production across Tata Steel’s European mills also returned to Q1 2020 levels, at above 2.6mt.

“The EU steel demand recovery is ongoing; the automotive segment is witnessing a robust recovery,” Indian parent Tata Steel says in a presentation. “Steel demand improvement is outpacing supply, leading to a strong increase in steel prices and spot spreads.”

Emanuele Norsa Italy