Metals

Primary metals production, especially Iron and Steelmaking, encompasses a wide range of production processes which can be continuous, batch or on/off (stop/start). For Steelmaking, the basic process is to mix iron ore with coke (treated coal), heat it up in a Blast Furnace until it melts and forms molten Iron. It is then moved to a BOS (Basic Oxygen Shop) where it is converted to steel by injecting oxygen. Various alloys are mixed in at this point so that the right grade of steel is produced and then it is poured out into a special mould at the Slabcaster to form a long slab.

The slab is then moved to the Hot Rolling Mills, where it is heated again so it can be rolled to make it thinner and longer and it is either then made into a plate or rolled into a coil. The product can be sold like this or the coils can be taken to the Coated Products plant where they are coated with a paint or put through a galvanising process where zinc is applied. Both these coatings help reduce oxidation and so will last many years in the market place where they are used for building products such as roofing or tanks and other uses.

Steelmaking involves lots of different applications:

  • heat treatment (and cooling)
  • materials handling
  • gas processing
  • slab casting
  • slab rolling to make plates and coils
  • pickling with chemicals
  • coating with paint
  • wastewater treatment
  • Emission controls
  • packing and despatch

Each of these processes can cause problems if accidents occur so Safety has a major focus in these operations, both in the way the plant is designed and the way people work. All these different applications are “integrated’ into one large, complex process, each part having an impact on another but operated in a way to ensure maximum efficiency in production and remaining competitive in the market.

All of this requires measurement, monitoring and control and to support this type of complex operation.

Triple I can provide specialised personnel who have the experience and application knowledge required, such as:

  • process automation engineers for control and safety systems
  • electricians for installation and maintenance
  • instrument technicians for calibrations
  • mechanical fitters to fabricate, install and maintain the various plant equipment around the site.