Diagnostic and event logging system for a coil handling system in a hot strip mill

At the end of 1998 Thyssen Krupp Stahl AG converted the existing coil handling system at its Bochum wide hot strip mill from vertical to horizontal axis transfer. The new system first transfers the coils to the hot coil storage or to the cold mill pickling line. The horizontal axis transfer reduces strip damage during coil handling. Further quality improvements and cost savings are achieved by the integrated inspection and strapping line and the automatic coil marking station. Thanks to a diagnostic system it is possible to quickly react to any irregular plant incident, thus maximizing the availability of the coil handling system. The diagnostic system also recognizes electrical and mechanical malfunctions as well as possible operating errors. The diagnostic messages facilitate operator training. The following article features a description of the concept of the modernized coil handling system and, by way of selected examples, explains how the fault alarm and diagnostic system works.