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Processes

The quality requirements for all grades of steel are constantly evolving. Today’s steels are increasingly  more resistant to rust and distortion while becoming lighter in weight, without compromising any aspect of  their structural integrity.  Steel producers must adapt their manufacturing processes to match these new requirements. The proper application of today’s modern  Induction strip heating technologies are key elements for these everlasting improvements.

HOT DIP GALVANIZING LINES (CGL)

Induction heaters can be installed:

  • After the welder, at the entry side of the galvanizing line. The weld can be annealed in order to prevent strip breakage in the line. This inductor is our UNIWELD™ weld annealing systems.
  • At the entry end or inside the annealing furnace, to increase the furnace productivity, facilitate the temperature transients or quickly reheat the strip in the thermal process. These are our UNISEAL® Boost heating systems.
  • After the annealing furnace the strip is continuously dipped into the Galvanizing pot. The coating metal is melted in a Premelt pot.
  • After the air knives, some qualities of steel for the automotive industry are reheated in order to produce the ‘Galvanneal’ coating. The inductors for this process are our UNIGAL™  Galvannealing systems. If necessary, a UNIEDGE®  Edge heating system can be added.
  • Drying of the organic coating (water based acrylic, anti-finger print, etc.) is done in an UNICOAT® Organic coating dryer.
  • Some hot dip galvanizing lines also include an in line painting section in which the primer coat or both primer and finishing coat are applied and cured. The paint curing is done in our UNICOAT® Paint curing systems.

CONTINUOUS ANNEALING LINES (CAL)

Induction heaters can be installed:

  • After the welder, at the entry side of the galvanizing line. The weld can be annealed in order to prevent strip breakage in the line. This inductor is our UNIWELD™ weld annealing systems.
  • At the entry end or inside the annealing furnace, to increase the furnace productivity, facilitate the temperature transients or quickly reheat the strip in the thermal process. These are our UNISEAL® Boost heating systems.

COLOR COATING LINES (CCL)

  • Induction is used to dry and cure the primer and/or the color coating after painting. These inductors are our UNICOAT® Paint curing systems.
  • When modernizing existing painting lines, the preheating of the strip in an additional induction system and before drying and curing in an existing catenary furnace makes possible the increase of the line productivity without large modification of its layout.

ELECTROLYTIC TINNING LINES (ETL)

Induction heaters can be installed:

  • After the passing through the electrolysis cells, the tinplate is reheated up to a temperature higher than the tin melting temperature in order to insure the steel weld-ability and its bright surface. This inductor is our UNISTRIP® Tin reflow systems.
  • There is a constant evolution of passivation products. The speed for drying these products (and specifically for chrome free products) can easily be increased after an induction preheating of the strip. This inductor is our UNICOAT® Organic coating dryer.
  • After tinning, some tin plate products are coated with a plastic film. Preheating of the strip before the coating is done in a UNISTRIP® inductor.

ELECTRICAL STEEL LINES (DCL, etc.)

  • Installing an induction booster in the annealing lines for GO or NGO electrical strip increases the line productivity and improves the properties of the strip. These inductors are our UNISEAL® Boosters for silicon steel.
  • Either in line with the annealing process or on a separate line, an MgO coating is applied on the electrical steel strip. This coating is dried in a UNICOAT® Paint coating dryer.