Berry Metal Company Announces Successful Implementation of Auto Taphole Sanding System at SSAB Alabama
Berry Metal Company (Harmony, PA) is excited to announce the successful installation and implementation of our innovative Auto Taphole Sanding System at SSAB Alabama. This groundbreaking project, executed in close collaboration with the SSAB Melt Shop team, marks a significant milestone in enhancing safety and operational efficiency within Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) processes. Our focus was on creating a safer working environment for both operations and maintenance personnel by addressing several key safety challenges associated with taphole sanding.
Key Design Features of the Auto Taphole Sanding System:
- Eliminating Additional Equipment: The system removes the need for extra equipment mounted on the EAF sump balcony and tilt platform, reducing clutter, and increasing workspace safety.
- Enhanced Visual Inspection: Achieves full visual inspection during the taphole sanding process, allowing operators to monitor the process with precision.
- High-Temperature, Air-Cooled Camera System: Equipped with a durable, air-cooled visual camera system designed to withstand high temperatures, ensuring reliable operation in extreme conditions.
- Safety for Maintenance Personnel: Provides the ability for maintenance teams to safely perform their work without any exposure to molten steel, significantly reducing risk.
- Automated Operation: The sanding process is fully automated from the tap station, streamlining operations and minimizing manual intervention.
- Video Recording for Digitization: Captures video footage of the sanding and inspection process, enabling easy digitization and further process analysis.
- Extended Sand Storage: Holds over an entire shift’s worth of taphole sand, ensuring smooth operation during high-demand periods.
The innovative design of our sanding system is based on an offline configuration—meaning it is not mounted on the furnace sump or tilt platform. This setup facilitates an automated sanding and inspection process, eliminating the need for operators to work near dangerous equipment. The system features a gravity-fed discharge of taphole sand, controlled from the top station. A pneumatically operated swing chute moves into position for sanding after the fastback, allowing the sump to remain clear of equipment and enabling maintenance to take place while the furnace is still operational. Operators can view the entire process via a camera display in the tap station, ensuring a smooth, efficient inspection.
Once the sanding is complete, the operator can easily swing the chute back into the offline (“home”) position, ensuring the system is ready for the next cycle.
Berry Metal Company continues to lead the way in developing solutions that improve safety, efficiency, and productivity in EAF operations. Contact our team today to discover how we can help you optimize your EAF processes and increase productivity.