Successful thermal performance at NLMK Strasbourg
NLMK Strasbourg, a steelmaker of galvanized and pre-painted steel for the automotive and construction sectors, was looking for a solution to improve coil quality produced by its existing galvanizing line of 400, 000 tonnes annual capacity.
The line featured a horizontal, short but very powerful furnace that generated rapid temperature increases over short distances, unlike modern lines that are longer with gradual temperature rises. Temperature variations were the primary source of these problems, leading to rejects and financial losses. Conventional control methods proved inadequate due to latencies, downtime, and non-linear process effects.