Renovation of a liquid iron runner at Tata Steel
VTG renovated the liquid iron runner at Tata Steel IJmuiden using a fully electric robot system for shotcrete under extreme heat.
High temperatures and safety
When the substrate becomes extremely hot and manually spraying concrete becomes impossible for our employees, our innovative technology comes into play. Renovating runners under extremely high temperatures is a challenging task in which accuracy and precision are crucial.
Shotcreting refractory material requires consistent quality, especially when ambient temperatures are extremely high. Manual execution under such conditions entails significant health and safety risks. Traditional methods are not only dangerous but also often lead to longer downtime, which reduces efficiency and productivity.
VTG deploys a robot system for renovation at Tata Steel
On a project at Tata Steel B.V., VTG carried out a renovation of a liquid iron runner by deploying a fully electric robot system. The work was tightly planned around a one-day shutdown, and with sufficient capacity and 24/7 deployment the time window was respected.
In close collaboration with the client, the planning was worked out in detail. Every step — from preparing the surface to applying the final layer of refractory material — was simulated in advance so that there were no surprises during execution. The result: a runner that is once again fully resistant to the extremely high load of liquid iron.
Fully electric robot system
Our fully electric robot system offered the perfect solution to these challenges. This advanced technology uses a specialised manipulator arm designed specifically for shotcreting refractory material. By deploying this technique, we were able to carry out the work not only more safely but also more efficiently.
The robot works accurately and consistently, regardless of the ambient temperature. This guarantees a constant layer thickness and high quality of the applied refractory material. Downtime was minimised while the work was carried out 100% safely and ergonomically — without exposing employees to dangerous conditions.
Arjan de Waard
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