SKF Solutions Improve Productivity and Product Quality

SKF Solutions Improve Productivity and Product Quality Two SKF solutions have been developed to deliver the following benefits to continuous casting mills: * Improved productivity, process control and product quality * Increased equipment reliability * Reduced downtime * Reduced number of planned and unplanned stops * Reduced maintenance and maintenance costs * Reduced environmental impact SKF ConRo Low is a greased and sealed unit requiring no re-lubrication, that reduces the main cause of continuous casting lines stoppages. That is rollers that become jammed due to the scale and hardened grease build up in the very hot and wet conditions of the caster. SKF ConRo Low is designed as a drop in replacement unit, dimensionally interchangeable with existing roll segments. This simplifies installation and virtually eliminates the chance of installation errors that would adversely affect the product quality and service life. The sealed and unitised concept of SKF ConRo Low also eliminates all the problems and costs around pumped grease installations that cycle several times every hour; * No grease reservoir, no grease pumping station and reduced energy caused needed to pump the high viscosity lubricant * No contaminated or baked grease getting into the bearing arrangement and causing blockages * No grease reclamation, water separation and disposing in an environmentally safe way. It is estimated that some continuous casting mills consume 50 -70 tons of grease a year. * No grease getting in recycled water where it could block the water spray nozzles and cause poor cooling leading to poor product quality. SKF ConRo Low units include a unique self aligning system that can accommodate the high degree of roll expansion fluctuation and deflection that occurs in casters. This is achieved using a CARB® toroidal roller bearing in the non-locating position and a SKF Spherical Roller Bearing in the locating position. CARB features an inner ring that moves independently of the outer ring, enabling it to accommodate shaft deflections and move smoothly in the axial direction without inducing internal axial loads. SKF ConRo Low is based on the SKF ConRo design for top end caster applications that have proven successful since their introduction a few years ago.SKF Caster Analyst System; on-line monitoring of continuous casters for process optimizationSKF Caster Analyst System is an on-line monitoring system that analyses process loads and temperatures so that in-line adjustments can be made to increase throughput and product quality, and reduce maintenance actions and costs in continuous casters.By analyzing the loads and temperature in comparison with process data in the SKF @ptitude Caster Analyst software, potential causes of production stops can be identified and acted upon to deliver the quality improvements and costs savings. The system consists of a measuring unit designed to measure temperature and the distribution and duration of load in the harsh caster environment. The unit is positioned on the roll lines and the measured data is transferred to the SKF @ptitude Caster Analyst software were it is analysed and compared to process data. SKF Caster Analyst System customers have found that with this solution you get: *Simplified troubleshooting which leads to reduced planned and unplanned downtime and increased productivity *Increased output through casting process improvements like increased casting speeds, Tundish change time, and gap adjustment *Improved and secured slab quality *Lower maintenance costs The flexibility and adaptability of the system makes it easilyscaleable to fit small as well as large installations and suitable for different caster designs.CARB is a registered trademark of the SKF Group.