PROJECT OBJECTIVES
STEELAR’s main goal is to develop and validate an innovative non-destructive solution, based on a novel ultrasonic EMAT technology, to measure residual stress levels on steel components, providing decision-aiding information to manufacturers.
STEELAR will bring forward a ground-breaking innovation and a change of paradigm in the steel industry, providing a novel and reliable inspection technology able to accurately assess residual stress in steel rolling rolls (manufacturing and in-service life) and during rolled bars’ production cycle.
- Enhance steel products durability and safety. Ensure rolling rolls have admissible residual stress levels (-250 MPa HiCr iron; -150 MPa ICDP; -400 MPa HSS1) preventing them from premature failure and ensure billets and rolled bars are within admissible residual stress levels.
- Improve steel manufacturing through knowledge on how residual stress varies at each step of the process; thus being able to adjust parameters in order to prevent or compensate it.
- Minimize production downtime and maintenance costs, trough remaining life forecasts and scheduled predictive maintenance.
- Increase operational health and safety, through a rigorous monitoring of stress levels in the roll, being able to forecast accidents, and removing the presence of operators in the vicinity by turning manual checks into automated inspections.
- Enhance steel manufacturers reputation across Europe.
- Save more than 100k€/year through a reduction in unexpected roll failure during their service life, avoiding material damages and non-availability costs associated with a line shutdown.
- Efficient use of resources and reduction in CO2 emissions thanks to a controlled production process, that reduces scrap rate (less wasted material) and reworks (less wasted energy), clearly aligned with Europe’s Green Deal and the energy and resource efficiency guidelines.