Siroll Orbis+ used for the first time worldwide: US long-product manufacturer Alton Steel chooses new profile gauging system from Siemens

Linz, Austria, US company Alton Steel Inc. has become the world’s first steel producer to use Siroll Orbis+ to measure the profile of long products. The Siroll Orbis+ fully rotating, on-line gauge for wire rod and bar mills delivers improvements in both product quality and output, while reducing waste. Unlike traditional methods that merely sample a single side, Siroll Orbis+ reviews the entire bar during the rolling process. This enables Siroll Orbis+ to uncover defects when they can be remedied instead of after the product is completed. Orbis, the previous model, has been used by Alton Steel since 1996.

Siroll Orbis+ is the latest version of the Orbis system which is currently in use in more than 200 applications worldwide. Like its predecessor, the new Orbis+ measuring system works on the shadow principle and measures the dimensions and profiles of rod steel and rebar of different shapes, including round, flat, square, octagonal and hexagonal cross-sections. The new system can perform more profile measurements per unit of length than other systems available on the market and offers a high degree of precision.

Located in the US federal state of Illinois, Alton Steel Inc. has an annual production capacity of 700,000 metric tons of steel. It produces carbon steel and alloyed steel with the help of an arc furnace and downstream metallurgical equipment. The steel is then formed into billets and slabs of different sizes on a continuous caster. Part of the company’s output is sold as semi-finished material. In addition, Alton Steel Inc. has a long-product rolling line for producing Special Bar Quality (SBQ) steel bars with cross-sections between 7/8” (2.2 cm) and 3.5” (8.9 cm).

Further information on solutions for steelworks, rolling mills and processing lines at: http://www.siemens.com/metals

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The Siemens Industry Sector (Erlangen, Germany) is the worldwide leading supplier of environmentally friendly production, transportation, building and lighting technologies. With integrated automation technologies and comprehensive industry-specific solutions, Siemens increases the productivity, efficiency and flexibility of its customers in the fields of industry and infrastructure. The Sector consists of six divisions: Building Technologies, Drive Technologies, Industry Automation, Industry Solutions, Mobility und Osram. With around 207,000 employees worldwide (September 30), Siemens Industry achieved in fiscal year 2009 total sales of approximately €35 billion. http://www.siemens.com/industry

The Siemens Industry Solutions Division (Erlangen, Germany) is one of the world’s leading solution and service providers for industrial and infrastructure facilities comprising the business activities of Siemens VAI Metals Technologies, Water Technologies and Industrial Technologies. Activities include engineering and installation, operation and service for the entire life cycle. A wide-ranging portfolio of environmental solutions helps industrial companies to use energy, water and equipment efficiently, reduce emissions and comply with environmental guidelines. With around 31,000 employees worldwide (September 30), Siemens Industry Solutions posted sales of €6.8 billion in fiscal year 2009.

Further information and downloads at:
http://www.siemens.de/industry-solutions