As the global demand for steel continues to rise, it is imperative that the availability and efficiency of machines and plant utilized in this heavy industry are maximized.

Modern measurement technology for machine maintenance
Important production line areas where PRÜFTECHNIK measurement technology is put to use include:

• Coking plant
• Blast furnace  
• Direct reduction plants 
• Basic top blowing furnace (BOF)
• Pan furnace  
• Warm and cold rolling mills

Plant equipment whose breakdown could lead to a standstill of production are fitted and monitored round the clock with multi-channel online systems (VIBROWEB, VIBROWEB XP, VIBNODE) or with machinery protection systems (VIBROTECTOR, VIBREX). Mobile data collectors (VIBROTIP, VIBSCANNER, VIBXPERT) are used to collect data from the auxilliary equipment. In addition to determing the vibration related status, laser measurement systems are used to display and optimize the machine or assembly geometry – examples include:   

• Alignment of rotational axes (ROTALIGN Ultra)
• Surface flatness (LEVALIGN Ultra)
• Structure starightness (OPTALIGN smart Straightness)
• Parallelism (PARALIGN)

Quality assurance using nondestructive testing
Semi-finished products must withstand exacting requirements if they are to be 100% safe and reliable as finished products after further machining as is often the case. A few examples include: hypodermic needles, steel girder and rails among others. 

PRÜFTECHNIK provides especially for the steel industry nondestructive test methods to examine steel and other metal products during the production process. Following checks are made on semi-finished products:

• Crack detection
• Error checking
• Weld seam testing
• Process control