December 2023 | SMS group and the Turkish plant operator Kardemir have successfully completed the digitization of Blast Furnace 5 at the Karabük plant. This marks a significant milestone in their partnership.
To ensure high-precision thermal and chemical control, BFXpert was installed at blast furnace 5 (BF5).
Energy optimization at Kardemir through the use of AI
The implementation of BFXpert, a system package from Paul Wurth, enables Kardemir to comprehensively control and monitor thermal and chemical processes.
As an integrated Level 2 process control system for improved blast furnace operation, BFXpert utilizes artificial intelligence for process optimization, paving the way for a fully autonomous blast furnace. The installation demonstrates that Xpert systems can be seamlessly integrated into both proprietary and non-proprietary blast furnaces from Paul Wurth.
Visit to the control room at Kardemir
Partnership to be deepened
The agreement between SMS group and Kardemir, the oldest blast furnace operator in Turkey, aims to deepen the partnership through continuous technology development. The final acceptance certificate was issued in May 2023. The parties emphasize their commitment to innovative solutions and look forward to shaping an efficient, sustainable, and profitable future together.
“This achievement is evidence of our commitment to delivering innovative solutions to our customers. We are honored to collaborate with Kardemir – a key player with an impressive history,” says Nicolas Schlesser, Head of Process Automation Metallurgy at SMS Group. “We are proud to accompany Kardemir on the journey towards a more efficient, sustainable, and profitable future and hope to continue this journey together.”
Sefa Çetinkaya, Project Manager at Kardemir, adds:
“We are pleased to successfully commission the BFXpert system. We believe this is a significant step in Kardemir’s digital roadmap. The BFXpert system, with its robust and secure infrastructure, will be continuously in use with us. Our goal is to further develop our production technologies through the integration of additional digital components such as expert systems, the Industrial Internet of Things, and artificial intelligence.”
About the SMS Group
With a global presence and a focus on future-oriented technology, SMS group is a partner for challenging projects in the metal industry, accompanying its customers throughout the entire lifecycle of their plants. The machine and plant builder, with German roots, has over 150 years of experience and digital expertise for continuous innovations. SMS group generates a global revenue of around 3.1 billion euros and employs around 14,400 people.
With the acquisition of the remaining shares in Paul Wurth S.A. in 2021, SMS group became the sole owner of Paul Wurth’s plant construction. This strengthened its expertise in metallurgy and hydrogen technology. The joint portfolio includes all technologies for reducing CO2 emissions in existing steel plants, hydrogen-based, CO2-free direct reduction of iron ore, and Power-To-X technologies for the production of synthetic fuels and downstream products.