STEEL + TECHNOLOGY 04/2019 EXTRACT

STEEL TECHNOLOGY | 61
Passion for precision
Simplified sample testing in hot rolling mills
Three rolling mills of GMH Gruppe – namely Stahl Judenburg, Mannstaedt and Georgsmarienhütte GmbH –
currently use the portable profile gauge CALIPRI RC220 by Nextsense. Jointly developed, the CALIPRI RC220
offers flexible contour checks along the rolling line without delay.
Four out of five cars produced in Germany
incorporate steel of GMH Gruppe.
Comprising of more than 20 companies
in the business fields of steel production and
recycling, steel processing, steering technology,
forging technology and casting technology,
GMH Gruppe covers the whole value
chain – from scrap recycling and steelmaking
down the line to manufacturing of readyto-mount
components. In order to optimize
production processes and product quality
three rolling mills of the GMH Gruppe – Stahl
Judenburg, Mannstaedt and Georgsmarienhütte
GmbH – employ the profile gauge
CALIPRI RC220 by Nextsense.
Development of a new measuring
system
When Mannstaedt GmbH and Nextsense
first put their heads together the
vision was clear: They wanted to develop
a portable profile gauge that is able
to measure contours in hot condition. So
far only stationary systems had this
capability. But the high number of measurement
points along the rolling mill
would boost investment costs. Thus, a
portable solution was needed.
Based on the collectively defined
specific requirements Nextsense developed
the first prototype. This unit was
tested and further improved at the hot
rolling mill of Mannstaedt GmbH. As a
next step, sample devices were produced
which gained attraction not only
at Mannstaedt but also at the rolling
plants of Stahl Judenburg and Georgsmarienhütte
GmbH. That marked the
birth of the CALIPRI RC220 portable
profile gauge.
Profile measurement at its finest
expert for hot-rolled special profiles, Stahl
Judenburg has specialized in bright steel
and the manufacturing of CNC machined
components. The steel plant at Georgsmarienhütte
GmbH is the upstream steel
production facility of GMH Gruppe and
produces the primary material, i.e. cast
ingots, blooms, billets and bars. These primary
steel products are mainly supplied to
the automotive sector.
The rolling mills of GMH Gruppe have
specialised their product range according
to the high requirements of the customers
and the market in general. In order to
serve customers and markets even better
the three companies leverage synergies
– especially in regards to the exchange of
information, joint market penetration and
customer service, as well as the optimization
of production processes. One of those
significant optimizations included the
development and use of the portable profile
gauge CALIPRI RC220. The device is
used for sample testing between the rolling
stands and measures long products in
hot condition of up to 1,200°C.
Meeting highest standards: steel
bar and bright steel made in
Judenburg
The first-class steel products of Stahl
Judenburg meet highest standards since
its foundation back in 1906. Recent market
development caused a shift from tool steel
and spring steel to automotive grades – a
transition Stahl Judenburg observed and
adapted to.
At Stahl Judenburg, the main focus is
on the production of bright steel and CNC
components. Thereby, precision plays an
important role, Peter Sammt, head of production
at Stahl Judenburg, explains. “For
us precision stands for high standards
regarding stability, uniformity and fabrication
tolerances of material and geometry.”
High expertise and a long tradition in steel
are the characteristics of Stahl Judenburg,
Mannstaedt and Georgsmarienhütte
GmbH as well. While Mannstaedt is an
Portable profile gauge able to measure contours in hot condition (Picture: Nextsense)
STEEL + TECHNOLOGY 1 (2019) No. 4