New Generation of Shapemeter Roll

ANDRITZ Metals Germany (AMG), part of international technology group ANDRITZ, and the VDEh-Betriebsforschungsinstitut (BFI) have entered into a collaboration to develop the latest generation of shapemeter roll. One focus of the development project will be to use the existing automation infrastructure of the rolling processes in line with Industry 4.0 and the Internet of Things (IoT) for data-driven optimization of shape processes. The aim is to achieve greater process reliability and production stability to meet higher quality requirements.

The new generation will enable measurement and monitoring of five other essential process parameters in addition to traditional shape measurement, which are to be successively integrated into the robust system of the shapemeter roll:

• Strip tension measurement
• Strip edge detection
• Strip width
• Strip position
• Monitoring the temperature profile of the strip.

"AMG and BFI can look back over a 40-year success story in the development of shapemeter and shape control systems," said a spokesperson. "The AMG-BFI shapemeter roll is the central system used for the production of metal strip in the steel, stainless steel, aluminum, and nonferrous metal industries to ensure consistent but always high quality. Thus, the shapemeter roll enables the production of metal strip with the highest product standards in the industry-while significantly reducing production costs."

To date, three generations of AMG-BFI shapemeter rolls have been developed. These include the shape:tronic system (AMG) and the BFI shapemeter roll (BFI). The first generation of the shapemeter roll, introduced in 1976, has been continuously adapted to meet changing customer requirements in shape measurement. In order to efficiently contribute practical experience to the next stage of development, both companies have decided to collaborate even more closely.

Ralf Gutsche, Department Manager for shapemeter rolls at AMG, said: "We are looking forward to working even more closely with BFI to combine our experience and develop the shapemeter roll product further. With these improvements, the shapemeter roll should play a central role in the rolling process in the future by further illustrating the entire process for the user in order to facilitate extensive process optimization."

Colin Goffin, commercial project manager at BFI, added: "The new proprietary generation of the shapemeter roll will combine the best of previous BFI shapemeter rolls-the high shape accuracy of the BFI pocket roll (2nd generation) and a closed roll surface, as is the case with the BFI axial measuring roll (3rd generation). In addition, the shapemeter roll will integrate further process parameters. This provides a very big advantage to our customers."

For more information contact:

ANDRITZ Metals

www.andritz.com

BFI

www.bfi.de