Germany – Samotics has been selected by thyssenkrupp to monitor the condition and performance of its hot rolling mill in Duisburg, Germany.
The hot rolling mill is a critical part of the steelmaking process, and unplanned downtime can be costly. Samotics’ SAM4 Health solution uses artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze current and voltage data to detect developing faults. This enables maintenance teams to address problems before they cause downtime.
In the first few months of the pilot project, SAM4 Health detected multiple critical faults at an early stage, including mechanical unbalance and bearing degradation. This enabled thyssenkrupp Steel to replace the affected machines before they failed, preventing significant unplanned downtime.
After the initial success of the pilot project, thyssenkrupp extended the use of the SAM4 Health system and integrated it into its maintenance process. The system is now used to monitor over 100 critical conveyor rolls at the Duisburg plant.
SAM4 Health system
Samotics’ SAM4 Health system is able to operate in extreme environments, such as the hot rolling mill, where temperatures can reach up to 1,200 degrees Celsius. The system uses sensors that are installed in the motor control cabinet, rather than on the asset itself. This makes it possible to monitor assets in hard-to-reach places and in areas where it would be too dangerous to install sensors directly on the equipment.
Samotics’ SAM4 Health solution has the potential to significantly reduce downtime and energy waste in the steel industry. By detecting developing faults early, maintenance teams can take proactive measures to prevent unexpected breakdowns. This can lead to significant savings in terms of lost production, repair costs, and energy consumption.
In addition to the economic benefits, Samotics’ SAM4 Health solution can also help to improve safety in the steel industry. By reducing the risk of unexpected breakdowns, the system can help to prevent accidents and injuries.
