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In this newsletter, we are pleased to present another successful gauge
installation. This project included 3 new x-ray sensors and integrated
laser speed measurement at CSN in the USA.
We are also excited to report that orders for IRM group gauges increased
220% in the last two years. This demonstrates the confidence our
customers have in the quality of our products and services.
Our team continues to develop new and unique solutions while also
integrating new technological innovations into our full range of
existing products.
Among other examples, the T100 optical thickness gauge has been improved
by implementing the most recent laser and camera technologies, highly
sophisticated digital image analysis and fast field bus data transfer.
The T100 provides an outstanding mean to help improving the heavy plate
mill control operation.
We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for all your project,
service and part needs.
Enjoy the article!
Yours faithfully,
Jean-Marc
Philippet
Managing Director
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In 2005, new
IRM group x-ray gauges were put on CSN’s Terre Haute, In Two Stand Reversing
Cold Mill.
There were
many reasons why the original gauges were candidates for replacement. Gary
Sinders, cold mill process engineer, said: “There were several areas we
needed to address by replacing the x-ray gauges. Reliability, source
stabilization problems, downtime, setup delays, and grade flexibility were
our primary problems. The original x-ray gauges were a source of headache for the operators,
maintenance, and me. First and foremost we wanted a reliable gauge
that could also provide better measurement performance”.
Tony Price,
roller on the mill, added: “All of the problems you think about maintaining
old equipment were there… repeated failures, difficulty getting spare parts,
finding a qualified service engineer”.
IRM group was
selected for a few different reasons. “We did a thorough inspection of the
gauge suppliers”,
said Mike Pounds, facility engineer. “We went for a demonstration at IRM
group in Columbus, OH. The system had fast, clean, accurate analog
thickness output for AGC, good alloy model for compensation, and a strong
North American presence with their parts and service support out of
Columbus, OH”. |
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From left to right :
Mike Patak, field service engineer
Graham Hundley, project manager |
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Three IRM group
TVXR-2 thickness gauges were ordered. The gauges were mechanically
customized to the requirements of the existing mill. The C-frame was
designed to fit into existing cobble guards, the new track was designed to
use existing bolt holes, and existing chillers and piping were reused.
The
gauges were delivered, installed, and commissioned in July, 2005.
"Everything was pretty much in order when it arrived. It was a good
installation", said Bob Pershing, mill supervisor at the time. |
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Gary Sinders
added: "Mike Patak was our service engineer [out of Columbus, OH] ... and was
very helpful. He took pride in the equipment and installation, as one could
witness the amount of detail he spent in setting up each gauge on site. The
operators really liked him too, ... and he did an efficient job for us". |
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IRM group's CPM (Complete Physical Model) was applied to
receive the specific coil chemistry before the start of each coil with the
set-up. This has improved the measurement and overall dynamic accuracy on the
mill.
"Since
start-up, there have only been a couple of very minor items needing
attention as might be expected with any new installation of this size. IRM
group was quick to react and those
items were jointly and quickly resolved. Graham Hundley, the project
manager, has been responsive and very helpful in resolving those minor
issues that did crop up".
Lance Meschen, maintenance supervisor, summed up the
improvements on the cold mill: "We no longer have down-time due to gauge
hardware failures and we don't require those calibration procedures that
sometimes took hours to complete. We used to waste significant periods
of time on the original gauges. That doesn't happen any more…at all. The
mill is running much more efficiently now".
"Since start-up, we are pleased with IRM group", added
Frank Pugh, plant manager. "The accuracy and reliability of the gauges
has improved from the old ones, which was the reason behind the project to
begin with".
Gary summed up how things have improved on the mill with
the IRM group x-ray gauges: "The downtime and delays previously associated
with the previous x-rays has completely fallen off the charts. With the IRM
group gauges, the operators perform their weekly checks and PM's to verify
coolant level and clean detector/source windows and that is all… and that is
a good thing". |
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•
Technical and
operational features provide the highest measurement and operational
performance.
•
Large
variety of sensor types
for cold metal rolling and processing lines, all based on the
same hardware and software platform for plant wide commonalty.
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High
reliability
(>99.8% availability) through years of rolling mill experience and
unique electrical and mechanical design. |
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Lower
maintenance costs
through increased uptime and the use of standard third party components.
•
Standard modem and/or VPN capability for immediate remote service
access, data transfer (for performance evaluation) and software
upgrades.
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IRM group specializes
in the Research, Design, Manufacture and Service of industrial measurement
systems for all flat rolled metals, combining extensive industry experience
and the latest technology. IRM group products can be used in all processing
steps of steel, aluminum or other non-ferrous metals to improve production
and product quality.
IRM
group's product list includes :
•
X-ray/Isotope Thickness
•
Metallic Coating Weight
•
% Iron (Galvanneal)
•
Speed
•
Laser Thickness
•
Width
•
Flatness
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To
better serve its customers, the IRM group provides local support in
every part of the world. IRM group has currently 1800 various sensors
in operation in more than 40 countries worldwide.
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For
local agent contact information,
please visit our website. |
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Editor
: IRM group - 30 Avenue du Progrès - 4432 Alleur - Belgium |
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