Internationale Partnersuche

Innovation & Technologie Angebot

Optimizing thermal plants with level 2 automation solutions

Country of Origin: Germany
Reference Number: TODE20190827001
Publication Date: 3 September 2019

Summary

A German company focused on optimizing thermal processes with a level 2 automation systems software in the metal industry is looking for partners under a technical cooperation or commercial agreement with technical assistance to jointly improve the optimization of plant throughput as well as to achieve a reduction of energy consumption and material losses, and work towards a fully automated plant operation via big data algorithms and artificial intelligence.

Description

As an asset-intensive industry, the metal industry is under continuous pressure to reduce costs, increase throughput, and achieve higher flexibility. This German company, founded in 1987 as a result of the alliance between a technical university and a steel producing company, focuses on optimizing thermal processes, mainly in the metal industry. They work for various companies in the steel and non-ferrous metals industry and are a supplier for plant construction companies.



The company offers a comprehensive optimization solution for plants. It consists on the one hand of engineering, including thermal calculations, plant dimensioning, measurements and investigations in plants, consulting and planning. On the other hand, it consists of a software for level 2 automation systems for plants based on thermal models and application specific software for thermal processes.



Their level 2 systems have been applied to around 70 plants in Europe and Asia. Since it is important to have an overview of the plant and it is important to be able to address modifications in various areas, it requires several partners working together during such project realizations. The company is therefore interested in finding partners with an industrial engineering, industrial automation or plant construction background to implement joint development projects on the basis of technical cooperation or commercial agreement with technical assistance.



A new area of interest for this client is the development towards a fully automated plant operation and implementing up-to-date instruments of data processing like big data algorithms and artificial intelligence. In this area specifically, they are looking for artificial intelligence and big data development partners.

Advantages and Innovations

For most of the reheating and heat treatment processes it is obligatory to record the production cycle completely. However, in many cases the process and product data are stored to different automation systems, so that it is extensive and error-prone to compile the necessary quality records.



The main advantage of the clients systems compared to conventional solutions is that they consolidate all relevant information and do automatic checking as well as evaluation and report generation plus feedback. This leads to improve product quality and process efficiency, and allow the plant to be operated with reduced staff therefore increasing the flexibility of production. 



In addition, level 2 systems provide more detailed information about plant and product parameters. This information can be used in continuous improvement process. The improvement process includes the optimization of plant throughput and increase of flexibility of production as well as a reduction of energy consumption and material losses.

Stage Of Development

Already on the market

Requested partner

The company seeks partnerships for the realization of joint projects in industry and joint development projects. Usually, level 2 systems cannot be developed and implemented separately, but need further modifications in the newly equipped plants. Just as well, a level 2 system cannot show its advantages if there are deficiencies in other parts of the plant. Therefore, a general view on plant improvements is necessary, which requires several partners working together during project realization.



The company is looking for partners in the field of industrial engineering, industrial automation or plant construction, preferably in segments where thermal plants are applied (e.g. steel, non-ferrous metals, foundry, glass, refractories and insulating material, kitchen and sanitary ware), to implement joint development projects on the basis of technical cooperation or commercial agreement with technical assistance. The partner should integrate the solution in their processes with the assistance of the German company. The German company will assist to adapt the solutions to the partner’s requirements and support the installation.



Technical cooperation can also include joint projects on up-to-date instruments of data processing like big data algorithms and artificial intelligence to work towards a fully automated plant operation. To this end, the client is looking for artificial intelligence and big data development partners.