Kick-off Meeting RFCS Project SUNSHINE

The kick-off meeting for the RFCS research project SUNSHINE (SUstainable New casting and rolling process monitoring/sensoring approach aimed at proper surface quality and SHape IN flat and long products, enabling Energy savings and smart management in the casting/rolling operations) took place on 23rd and 24th of October 2024 in Rome.  This project is aimed at the early detection of unfavorable process conditions which lead to defects, and to identify, with the support of sensors and models, shape or quality problems in the cast product that lead to problems during rolling. The rules for defect prediction and process optimization to avoid them will be developed using AI tools like machine learning methods. This aims to reduce the occurrence of shape and/or surface defects by definition of suitable operating conditions providing recommendations and guidelines which are favoring an even shell growth, via a combination of tools for:

  • Process modelling
  • Sensoring (e.g. fibre-optical temperature sensors)
  • Process controll

Further project partners besides BFI are Rina Consulting – Centro Sviluppo Materiali as coordinator, SIDENOR I+D, Oulun Yliopisto, Feralpi, Acciaieri d’Italia and AG der Dillinger Hüttenwerke.

The project is funded by the Research Fund for Coal and Steel of the European Union (RFCS-Grant Agreement No101157885)