Fives digital technology to upgrade SSAB’s furnace control
Originally installed by Fives in the 1990s, the two Stein Digit@l Furnace® have undergone several refurbishments to maintain performance and reliability. Today, with evolving production needs and the end of software support for the existing system, SSAB is taking a strategic step forward to ensure long-term operational excellence.
To address these challenges, SSAB will implement the latest-generation Level 2 control system. The thermal optimiser, Virtuo™-R, proposed by Fives, will automate furnace control with precise regulation, significantly reducing manual intervention and ensuring consistent results.
“Integrating this digital solution will improve reliability, data visibility and adaptability to new steel grades. It’s a strategic advancement for our site,” explains Mika Leino, Project Engineer at SSAB Europe OY.
To take a step further, SSAB will also deploy Smart Monitoring, a data-driven platform, which will consolidate operational data from Virtuo™-R data through intuitive dashboards. The system will provide real-time performance indicators, enable proactive process and quality monitoring, detect anomalies, and anticipate maintenance needs, thus enhancing both performance and reliability.
“This project was developed in a spirit of transparency and trust. Our teams are working closely with SSAB to tailor the solution to their specific requirements and existing infrastructure,” emphasizes Maxime Monnoyer, Technical Sales Manager - Steel Digital Factory at Fives.
The modernisation will be rolled out over a twelve-month period without interrupting production – a testimony of the strong partnership and technical expertise between both companies.
This project marks a new milestone in the long-standing relationship between SSAB and Fives, built on shared values of performance.