English
In recent years, NedZink has gone through a transition. The first step in our production process is a casting process. We changed this from a block casting process to a continuous casting process. Were placed the gas furnaces in which we used to melt the zinc with electric furnaces. As a result, our primary process runs 100% on electric energy.
Continuous casting produces an endless coil of zinc. As a result, you have no start and stop losses. It means that furnaces and casting equipment constantly remain at thesame temperature and there is no loss of material between coils. This saves 7%energy per tonne of titanium zinc produced.
The production process starts in the melting furnace. Pure zinc blocks are mixed with other metals to obtain Titanium Zinc. Once melted, mixed and stabilized, the melting furnaces tilt and pour the zinc out, which flows towards the casting furnace.
This is a buffer furnace that keeps the zinc at a constant temperature and transfers it directly to the continuous casting lines.
The liquid titanium zincis poured between two cooled rollers and comes out the other side as a sheet. This sheet, 6.5 mm thick and 1,070 mm wide, is immediately wound into coils. The coil can be cut and removed from the machine without interrupting the casting process. The next coil is rolled immediately after.
Each coil that comes out of the continuous casting process is reheated in a furnace according to a fixed heating curve in an oxygen-free environment. This is done to obtain the right material structure needed for cold rolling.
In terms of progress, the continuous casting process, which uses cleaner energy, emits fewer CO2 emissions, produces less waste product, is much safer and also results in a product whose quality can be better controlled and adjusted, is a step in the right direction. A great example of sustainable development, of progress and sustainability going hand in hand. This is how we contribute to the United Nations' 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
