EUROPEAN STEEL TECHNOLOGY AND APPLICATION DAYS 2017 - ESTAD 2017

Since the end of the 1980s, thin slab casting and rolling plants, in particular CSP® plants are well established for the production of hot strip. By introducing the endless operation mode, a new generation of casting and rolling plants was created. CEM®, the compact endless casting and rolling mill, is the innovative solution introduced to the market by the Korean steelmaker POSCO and the SMS group. CEM® is a highly flexible concept that benefits from the advantages of both the batch and endless operation mode. This enlarges the product mix by ultra-thin gauge rolling with strip thicknesses of down to 0.8 mm and ensures a highly efficient operation at a low cost level. Furthermore, the joint approach combines SMS’ engineering and process experience with the production and operational excellence of POSCO. Beside the applied technology in a CEM® plant according to the latest reference, the paper will illustrate the performance of the concept for the production of commodity and advanced high strength steels using theoretical analyses and practical operational results.