STEEL + TECHNOLOGY 04/2019 EXTRACT

62 | STEEL TECHNOLOGY
The portable system CALIPRI RC220 can be used flexibly at different positions (Picture:
Nextsense)
Stahl Judenburg produces 70,000 tons
of bright steel and steel with special profiles
per year. In order to fulfil the high
standards of the market, narrow tolerances
are equally important as the high-quality
feedstock of bars 100% quality-proofed
for both, internal and external defects.
The required precision for the production
of bright steel components was further
optimized by the utilization of the
CALIPRI RC220 developed by Nextsense.
Due to the patented CALIPRI technology
the measurement of the rolled profile is
performed with highest precision and
within just a few seconds. The portable
device is flexible in use and can be positioned
at various measurement points
along the bar mill. “With the CALIPRI
RC220 sample testing has been considerably
simplified while at the same time saving
costs and increasing the transparency
of processes”, says Peter Sammt, manager
rolling mill and heat treatment at Stahl
Judenburg.
The pressing need for improvement in
sample testing was the major decision factor
to purchase the contactless and laserbased
measurement device. “Previously,
the testing was done by taking the sample
directly from the production line to measure
it with a caliper”, explains Peter Sammt.
This traditional method is quite common
but old-fashioned – wasting time and
money.
Hot rolled special profiles by
Mannstaedt – developed and
produced matching exact
specifications
Whenever customers need steel profiles
with an extraordinary contour, they turn to
the experts of Mannstaedt GmbH. For the
rolling mill, precision is a matter of high-precise
geometry individually developed and
produced for the customer. Here, the product
development differs vehemently compared
to other industries. Innovation is not
driven by Mannstaedt but rather by the
market itself. The customer usually asks
the rolling experts at Mannstaedt for a
very special contour, the latter then develop
a rollable profile. So, the company is
informed about market trends quite early
on and can provide very individual, customized
solutions quickly. Two rolling mills
can transform about 200,000 tonnes of
steel annually into special profiles.
One example for a special customer
request is the individual profile of lift masts
on forklift trucks. As soon as the customer
plans a new product generation, Mannstaedt
will be informed. Thus, the rolling
mill can make sure the technological
requirements for the production of this
special profile can be met on time. Another
example for special profiles produced
by Mannstaedt are door hinges for the
automotive industry.
Be it individual profiles of lift masts for
forklift trucks or door hinges for the automotive
industry, the production process
for the special profiles follows a certain
procedure. “We heat the material – a
square profile which we buy in. In several
transformation steps it is then rolled into
its special shape”, explains Martin Schütt,
manager of one of the rolling mills at
Mannstaedt. “It is here where we use the
CALIPRI RC220”, adds his colleague Dr.
Christian Trappmann, head of the calibration
department at Mannstaedt and contact
person for the technical customer support.
“We use the gauge to check the
contour after every rolling stand along the
mill. Thus, the CALIPRI RC220 is mainly
used when we first produce a profile. Additionally,
the profile gauge helps us to configure
our existing products.”
But this doesn’t mean that the CALIPRI
is rarely used – quite the contrary is the
case. At Mannstaedt the product changes
With the CALIPRI RC220 sample testing has
been considerably simplified while at the same
time saving costs and increasing the
transparency of the processes
Peter Sammt, manager rolling mill and heat treatment at Stahl Judenburg.
happen several times a day. Thus, the
CALIPRI RC220 is needed quite often.
Apparently, it’s frequent use made the purchase
of a second device necessary.
Before CALIPRI was established,
another product testing method was used
at Mannstaedt – a very common method
also widely used in other rolling mills. Product
samples were cut off, cooled in a water
STEEL + TECHNOLOGY 1 (2019) No. 4