More demanding grades of steel with Vertical Slab Caster

Mr P K Kaul inaugurates the Vertical Slab Caster in the presence of senior management and Union officials

The first slab from the only Vertical Slab Caster in India was cast by Tata Steel at midnight on January 31, 2005. The trials were so successful that an extremely jubilant Mr R P Singh informed the Managing Director, Mr B Muthuraman of the achievement immediately. The Vertical Slab Caster was formally inaugurated on March 4, 2005 by Mr P K Kaul, Director, Tata Steel in the presence of visiting Directors from Tata Sons, Dr Jamshed J Irani, Director and Mr Ishaat Hussain as well as the top management of the Company. It aims at enhancing the existing curved mould Slab Caster at LD#2 and Slab Caster to allow the Company to produce more demanding grades of steel with a higher order of cleanliness without any compromise on the casting speed.

The Vertical Slab Caster will enable Tata Steel to increase the share of production of IF/EDD grades in order to meet growing market demand for them.

In the earlier curved mould caster, the inclusion and Gas bubbles flotation path is generally directed to the inner radius of the strand resulting in accumulation near the inner radius surface. These accumulations later manifest themselves as slivers, pencil blisters in the final rolled products from the Cold Rolling Mill.

The impressive new facility

The main machine at LD#2 and Slab Caster was modified to include a new vertical mould and bender/straightener segments, upgradation of ladle turret, modification of the tundish car and existing segments, augmentation of hydraulic systems including pipe work, instrumentation & automation system and numerous attendant changes for the Company to manufacture more demanding grades of steel.

Some Benefits

• Increase Casting speed for ultra low carbon steel

• Reduce blister defects in the hot rolled products

• Smaller roll pitches reduce strand bulging and bending / unbending strains

• Optimization of mould oscillation parameters by using VAI DYNAFLEX hydraulic oscillation system.

• Straight mould ensures greater safety against breakouts.

• Increased cooling water for equipment and spray system.