Aluminum
Copper
Steel
Alumina production
Anode casting wheel
Basic oxygen furnace
Blast furnace
Continuous casting
Electric arc furnace
Electrolytic refining
Froth flotation and thickening
Hot rolling process
Ingot casting system
Material handling
Off-gas system
Primary aluminum
Raw material extraction and preparation
Secondary aluminum and recycling
Secondary metallurgy
Sinter plant
Smelting, converting and refining furnaces
Strip processing
Overview
Sensor solutions for the metal and steel industries
Intelligent sensors are required in many locations in the production, processing, conveying, and storage of metallic materials, where they guarantee efficient and safe production and trouble-free processing. SICK has knowledge and expertise in a wide variety of applications: positioning of cranes, machine parts and materials, measuring volume flow and fill level in silos and on conveyor belts, monitoring relevant values for process control, protecting hazardous areas. These are just a few examples of the broad range of solutions from SICK.
Trends & news
Measuring to the limit: how the “fire masters” from SICK save
energy with exhaust gas analysis
The steel in electric arc furnaces bubbles in light orange hues. Flames blaze from the thin gap between the vessel and exhaust manifold, the heat is intense. This is what steelworkers unemotionally refer to as a “harsh environment” – but what lies behind these words are such extreme conditions for humans and devices that special abilities are needed to master them. SICK has tried-and-tested solutions for exhaust gas measurement in electric arc furnaces and the no less intense monitoring of cement kilns which serve to optimize processes. In addition to safety aspects with gas analysis and leakage monitoring, this means energy savings.
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Clear view for forging and transport manipulators with 3D vision
The forging manipulators by Siegerland-based company DANGO & DIENENTHAL are best given a wide berth. These transport and handling machines can weigh as much as 1,000 tonnes. Not only that – their load, which can weigh up to 350 tonnes, is still hot, and although considered merely “warm” in steel industry terms, these glowing pieces of steel can reach a temperature of up to 1,200 degrees Celsius. Operational safety is therefore imperative. SICK 3D vision gives forging and transport manipulator drivers a better view, particularly of the area at the rear of the machine.
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Ranger3 irons out any issues for 3D inspection in steel mills
When it comes to optical 3D inspections in thermal production processes for continuous casting plants, hot rolling mills, and tube rolling mills, flickering surfaces, heat, tinder, dirt, and moisture are all par for the course. But for IMS Messsysteme GmbH as market leaders in precisely this field, handling these challenges is a fundamental aspect of their core skill set. For more than a year now, the company has been using a 3D vision sensor in the form of the Ranger3 from SICK, which significantly improves the performance of its own inspection systems while at the same time opening up new fields of application and business opportunities.
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Fields of application
Security and protection
It’s not just the protection of people that is important. Equally important are the protection of the plant and its machines from damage and loss. SICK offers solutions for collision protection, access control to risk zones and accident prevention within and outside of the production building.
Emission monitoring
Measurement systems either check to see if emissions standards are reached and complied with or only report limit violations. Operating entities in metal and steel mills always trust the expertise of SICK when choosing appropriate solutions for gas flow and dust concentration measurement as well as gas analysis.
Material flow optimization
2D LiDAR sensors and flow sensors measure the volume flow on conveyor belts. Level sensors monitor silo contents and material discharge hoppers. Encoders and sensors for detection control the dosing processes. Even the materials management benefits from sensor technology from SICK: production efficiency increases.