• Unique 3-strand slab caster from Primetals Technologies operational at Chinese steel producer Tangshan Donghua
• Achieves significantly higher production capacity than a 2-strand caster while requiring 50 percent less space than the comparable conventional configuration of two 2-strand casters
• Lower costs resulting from operation and maintenance of the casting machine

In September 2023, the world’s first 3-strand continuous slab caster was implemented at Chinese steel producer Tangshan Donghua Iron and Steel Enterprise Group’s site in Tangshan, Hebei province, China. This machine was one of six casters started up by Primetals Technologies that month.

The new 3-strand solution comes with several benefits for Tangshan Donghua. The conventional alternative, a configuration of two 2-strand continuous casters, would have required double the space of the 3-strand slab caster. Moreover, there are CAPEX- and OPEX-related gains as well: A reduction in CAPEX is assured thanks to reduced expenditures on equipment and civil works, and the efficient configuration of the 3-strand caster results in lower costs for operation and maintenance of the machine.

Casting taken to the next level

The 3-strand caster features technology that takes the casting process to the next level. The tailormade and very large tundish has been praised by Tangshan Donghua for its stiffness and for the way in which it optimizes the flow of the liquid steel. Straight cassette-type Smart Molds ensure an optimized primary solidification of the strand.

The DynaFlex hydraulic oscillator is capable of adjusting the mold-oscillation parameters to match the composition of the liquid steel, which results in improved strand-surface quality of the slabs. A part of the secondary cooling, DynaJet spray cooling assures homogenous temperature distribution so that corner cracks are avoided, which is of particular importance when casting advanced steel grades.

A comprehensive automation package

The 3-strand caster features a state-of-the-art automation package. DynaPhase, Dynacs 3D, and DynaGap Soft Reduction 3D are dynamic secondary cooling and soft reduction packages. These innovations significantly improve the continuous casting process by considering numerous parameters, including thermodynamic effects, online chemical composition, and phase transitions. Furthermore, the Level 2 packages feature offline simulation for the development of new and even more effective casting practices. LevCon is a system for automatic mold-level control, with "autostart" casting functions and auto-adaptive dynamic bulging compensation. Mold Expert helps to prevent caster-mold breakouts and digitally monitors the mold in real-time.

Close collaboration

One of China’s top 500 enterprises, Tangshan Donghua was established in 2009. Its wide scope of business includes sintering, ironmaking, steelmaking, hot rolling, and bar and high-end wire-rod rolling. Primetals Technologies and Tangshan Donghua have collaborated on projects related to metallurgical services and offline maintenance for the steel producer’s continuous casting machines since 2017.

The world’s first 3-strand continuous slab caster, supplied by Primetals Technologies, in operation at Chinese steel producer Tangshan Donghua.