This is the fourth continuous caster from Primetals Technologies in operation at the Tangshan Laoting plant in Hebei Province. The first two casters were installed in 2020, followed by a third in 2023. HBIS Tangsteel now operates eight slab caster strands, all supplied by Primetals Technologies, reaching a combined annual production capacity of 9.6 million tons of slabs.
With this latest startup, HBIS Group and Primetals Technologies have partnered on ten continuous casting projects, including both slab and long casters, covering new installations and modernization efforts. This long-standing collaboration was a key factor in HBIS’s decision to select Primetals Technologies as a supplier. Other important considerations included the proven quality of Primetals Technologies’ equipment and reliable service.
The scope of supply included essential mechanical components, Level 1 and Level 2 automation systems, and implementation services.
Enhanced Strand-Surface Quality
The new continuous caster incorporates several technological innovations to ensure high-quality slabs. The DynaFlex hydraulic oscillator allows flexible adjustment of mold oscillation parameters such as curves, stroke, and frequency, resulting in improved strand-surface quality. Increased powder consumption and reduced risk of caster-mold breakouts contribute to greater reliability at high casting speeds. The DynaWidth mold-width adjustment system enables fast and adaptable slab-width changes.
Maximized Yield
Advanced automation solutions ensure consistent, stable operation and high product quality. The Dynacs 3D secondary cooling model predicts the full 3D temperature profile along the strand, optimizing secondary-cooling setpoints and identifying the point of final strand solidification for improved cooling control.
The DynaGap SoftReduction 3D system provides fully automated roll-gap control, enabling dynamic soft reduction to minimize centerline segregation and improve internal strand quality. The Yield Expert system optimizes cut lengths to maximize production output. Mold Expert monitors the mold in real time to detect and prevent caster-mold breakouts.
HBIS Group, one of China’s largest steel manufacturers, founded HBIS Tangsteel New District in Laoting in 2017 to relocate production capacity from the city of Tangshan.
Key Facts: HBIS Tangsteel’s New Continuous Caster
Capacity: 2.4 million tons per year
Slab Dimensions: 200 to 250 millimeters (thickness), 800 to 1600 millimeters (width)
Steel Grades: Peritectic, microalloyed, ultra-low-carbon to high-carbon, and more
