2009-11-11 - ABB technology is enabling steel manufacturer Outokumpu to produce defect-free products and avoid costly customer claims at its flagship Tornio Works steel mill in Finland.
By
ABB Communications
Using a combination of high-speed digital cameras, powerful lighting systems and advanced software, ABB’s patented surface imaging system takes a remarkable 50,000 images a second of the entire surface area of coils, sheets, bars and slabs as they pass through the manufacturing process at full production line speed.
The system identifies the smallest scratches, dents and imperfections – even those that are invisible to the naked eye - and pinpoints the cause of the defect, thereby enabling precise and rapid rectification of the problem.
With many of the world’s steel mills currently operating at half-capacity, the ability to produce grade-perfect and defect-free products is critical to profitability.
Known as HDI800 Surface Imaging System, the technology has understandably had a enormous impact on quality management in the metals industry by ensuring that blemish-free products of the correct grade are delivered and costly customer rejects are avoided.
More than 1,000 imaging systems have been installed and are currently in operation worldwide. One of the most recent is at Outokumpu, who recently added a fifth HDI800 system at its flagship Tornio Works steel mill in Finland – the world’s most integrated single-site steelworks.
|
Examples of the defects picked up by ABB’s Surface Imaging System. The system takes 50,000 images a second of the entire surface of the product as it passes through the production line and pinpoints the exact source of the defect.
With many of the world’s steel mills currently operating at around half their capacity, the key to profitability no longer rests on the mill’s ability to increase output but on its ability to ensure that only products of perfect quality are shipped to customers.
ABB’s Surface Imaging System helps metals manufacturers achieve that target. It provides 100-percent quality inspection, improves real-time process control and – by pinpointing the source of a defect – strengthens preventive maintenance procedures on the production line.
“ABB’s SIS system allows us to identify where the problem lies so we can take immediate corrective measures – saving us a lot of time and valuable production capacity. It is easy to use and maintain.”
Heini Hämäläinen, Section Manager, Outokumpu