Leading German steelmaker Hüttenwerke Krupp Mannesmann (HKM) has chosen Primetals Technologies to supply new Mold Expert Fibre systems for installation at its Duisburg plant.

HKM aims to further enhance its continuous casting operations by leveraging Primetals Technologies’ advanced mold monitoring expertise and solutions.

According to Primetals Technologies, Mold Expert Fibre delivers a breakthrough in mold visualization, enabling HKM to closely monitor the area where slab surface quality is determined. The system offers high-precision detection of critical events such as stickers, cold spots, and longitudinal cracks. Additional benefits include improved control during mold filling at the start of casting and reduced meniscus asymmetry.

Fibre optic-based temperature measurement is employed and supports thousands of measuring points per mold, scalable to more than 10,000 if required. Real-time feedback on meniscus shape, mold powder behaviour, and taper accuracy is also part of the deal.

The primary objective of the technology is to provide data previously unavailable, such as precise meniscus shape measurements across the entire mold width and detailed information on liquid steel movement inside the mold. The system alerts operators to potential caster-mold breakouts at the earliest possible stage, including during the start of casting.

HKM specialises in slab and bloom casting and produces 4Mt/yr of liquid steel. The company employs approximately 3,000 people.

HKM’s integrated steel mill in Duisburg supplies intermediate products to the processing industry and offers over 2,000 different steel grades. The company is jointly owned by Salzgitter, thyssenkrupp, and Vallourec.