Situation
• Lack of knowledge about the temperature distribution inside the stock.
  Thus the feedback control due to stock temperature is limited 
• High energy consumption of the furnace due to wrong operation
• Installation of furnace control systems at existing furnaces is expensive
  and time consuming 

Solution
• 2-dimensional online calculation of the temperature distribution
  inside the stock
• Estimation of the expected drop out temperature of the stock, due to
  actual furnaces operation. Control of the furnace with respect to this
  temperature (model predictive control)
• Integration of the experience of the furnace operator
  by a rules based system
• Closed software-package for the furnace control system based on an
  ORACLE-database

Advantages
• Higher temperature accuracy and enhanced quality of reheating
• Minimisation of the energy consumption
• Rapid installation and start of operation because of simple set-up
  mechanisms for the furnace geometry
• Simple optimisation of the furnace operation by offline simulation
  using the same system as for online control