9th ECCC European Continuous Casting Conference – ECCC 2017

The field of computer-assisted layout engineering and material flow planning and evaluation has gained considerable interest in the last years, mainly thanks to the evolution of advanced numerical modeling tools. Danieli has developed a state-of-the-art solution with a dedicated set of simulation libraries able to model the logistics of the entire meltshop, from scrap yard through melting and refining facilities up to ingot or continuous casting and billet storage. In continuous casting, this approach is particularly recommended to replace old-fashioned static machine cycle calculation sheets, making available extensive dynamic information to perform accurate study and optimization of cast product evacuation area. In the example case a continuous caster with a billet discharge system characterized by a high level of complexity is presented, where an extensive feasibility analysis has been performed prior to machine startup and discrete-event simulation has been applied to supply valuable insight into the process and indications for machine and automation optimization. Key words: Discrete Event Simulation, Logistics, Layout Design, Material Flow, Billet Discharge Optimization