Metech STG is completing the installation, testing and training of a new double ladle treatment area for wire injection and argon bubbling for a steel plant in the North of Italy.

The area features two possible ladle positions: the first one for productions requiring cored wire injection, the second one for steel productions requiring a long argon blowing time through porous plugs, which will consequently leave vacant the first position. The ladles on the stands feature a suitable cover in both positions and the process includes the removal and laying down in storage of the cover itself. It was thus necessary to adapt the wire injection area in compliance with safety standards and regulations, as well as to make improvements for coil management.

The platform and the walkways have been modified, the perimeter of the areas in front of the stands has been provided with pockets for the fixing of removable panels for operator protection. New access walkways have been created for connection with the ladle car runways area. A new ladle cover handling system has been implemented. The system currently in use for automatic cover hooking and unhooking is still valid, while a cover storage system has been supplied by Metech STG to allow its suitable positioning with respect to the pre-existing automatism.

Metech STG has also supplied a platform provided with a handrail right beside the column for cover/argon lance handling, to ease emergency operations in case of handling equipment failure and for maintenance activities.

Metech STG has installed a new Handling System for the argon lance, mainly consisting of a base plate and two concentric columns.

As far as the installed wire feeding machines are concerned, they include the following equipment:
- Machine moving trolley consisting of two elements: a fixed bedplate and a movable part on wheels, where the wire feeding machine is positioned.
- New stands for coils, comprising containment cradle for every cored wire coil, manually movable to ease replacement operations. The movable wheeled base plate carrying the coil slides inside the fixed bedplate.
- Safety system for knot or cobble detection. The cradle features a preloaded device which in case of excessive stretch triggers a safety limit switch, in order to stop the machine.
- Safety perimetral enclosure for the wire feeders and the coil stands, also provided with sequence protected access to the area, aimed at ensuring high safety levels.

Besides installation, Metech STG will take care of testing and personnel training related to the supplied equipment.