EMG eMASS® Strip Stabilising System at Tata Steel Shotton generates substantial savings

Shotton Works is located in Deeside, North Wales, in the UK and manufactures approximately 500,000 tonnes of metallic and pre-finished steel per year for building envelope, domestic and consumer applications.

Simon McCormick, Site Development Projects Manager, said: “The primary purpose of the strip stabiliser is to hold the strip flat as it passes through the air knives. Once fully optimised, the new device will not only control the amount of zinc deposited onto the strip and improve the coating consistency, it will also reduce how much is used and lead to substantial savings – depending on the price of zinc and the product being produced.”

The proven eMASS® system, in this installation equipped with 6 pairs of individual moveable magnets – a recent technical development – was installed above an air knife already in production use for a longer time. The installation situation above an existing air knife is always somewhat difficult, above all because of the crane paths to be kept free for removing the pot roll. The solution here consists of a combination of movable system supports and height-adjustable magnet housings, which ensure accessibility of the nozzle system for maintenance purposes without removal of the eMASS structure itself. Due to the excellent teamwork between the engineering and projects department at Tata Steel and EMG as well as with external contractors the commissioning went like clockwork. From approval to successful commissioning, the project had a duration of one year.

The combination of EMG eMASS^® and the additional EMG eBACS system for contact free lateral strip edge detection and baffle blade control ensures highest coating quality at full throughput. This investment reflects Tata Steel’s commitment to developing high end products for customers and sustainable production.

Got curious? Would you like to know more about EMG eMASS^® and EMG eBACS and the related application possibilities? Please feel free to contact our sales department, our international sales organisation or our product manager Mr. Steffen Dombrowski (steffen.dombrowski@emg-automation.com) at any time.