From STEEL GRIPS online from TOP voestalpine Stahl hit another goal in their modernisation efforts Nov 9, 2011 One of the coil yards in Linz/Austria voestalpine Stahl GmbH in Linz is continually modernizing and increasing production capacities. The target is to increase steel production to approximately 6 million t/a. Recently, the new continuous casting line for ultra-thick slabs, CC7, went life. Designed for an annual production volume of 1.2 million t, the line can produce slabs in thicknesses of 225, 285 and 355 mm and in widths ranging between 740 and 2200 mm. CC7 further comprises a straight mould and a bottom feeding system in order to minimize set-up time. The casting bow radius is 10 m and the metallurgical length is 35 m. Technological features, such as, soft reduction, secondary cooling system and automatic sprays nozzle width adjustment serve for proper inner and outer slab surface quality. For the first time in a European steelworks, two robot systems allow for an automated casting platform, so that the operating personnel must no longer enter potentially dangerous zones and can safely monitor and control the process from the control room. Roughly 70 % of the produced slabs will be further processed into heavy plates. In the Linz steelworks of voestalpine Stahl GmbH, approximately 5.5 million t of steel are produced, cast and further processed each year into high-quality coated and uncoated flats for European customers in automotive, household-appliance and construction supply industries. © Copyright 2007 by GRIPS media