Laser Contouring System

What is ANTERIS 360 for Ladles?

Secondary steelmaking and steel transport operations require precise ladle management to achieve optimal steel quality and ensure operational safety. Meet ANTERIS 360 - the most advanced laser contouring system specifically engineered for Steel Ladle metallurgical applications, supporting both treatment ladles and transport ladles.

Main Benefits for Ladle Operations

Steel ladles face unique operational challenges, including thermal cycling, slag corrosion, and mechanical wear, that require sophisticated maintenance strategies to optimise availability and campaign life. Thanks to ANTERIS 360, ladle operators can detect critical refractory deterioration, prevent steel breakouts, and maximise ladle campaign duration while ensuring consistent steel quality.

Fast, Accurate, Reliable Ladle Refractory Profiling

ANTERIS 360 is specifically calibrated for Steel Ladle vessels, addressing the unique operational challenges that include thermal shock from steel transfer, slag line attack, argon stirring erosion, and the demanding ladle metallurgy processes.

The system integrates seamlessly with your ladle handling equipment through a simple single-axis manipulator, reducing operational costs while accommodating ladle turnaround schedules and maintenance windows.

The Ladle-Optimised Scanning Solution

ANTERIS 360 combines high-speed, 300 kHz laser scanning technology with a robust mechanical platform and intuitive Hyperion* 3-D output software on an insertable platform. Using Vesuvius' advanced laser contouring system, millions of contour points comprise each ladle measurement, providing incredibly detailed surface and feature resolution of your ladle interior in seconds.

The Insertable Platform for Ladle Applications

When ladle measurements require an insertable solution, Vesuvius' unique 360-degree ANTERIS 360 laser contouring system offers dedicated, always-on measurement capability specifically designed for the demanding ladle environment. The system captures the complete ladle interior in a single scan, including critical areas such as:

• Bottom refractory condition and wear patterns
• Sidewall thickness and thermal damage assessment
• Slag line region monitoring (critical wear zone)
• Argon stirring plug areas and surrounding zones
• Ladle shroud and impact zones
• Tap hole and slide gate regions

System Components for Ladle Integration

• Vesuvius ANTERIS 3-D laser scanner with ladle-specific calibration
• Water-cooled housing engineered for Ladle's thermal cycling environment
• Custom-designed robotic arm optimised for ladle geometry and access requirements
• Process Metrix electronic control unit with ladle-specific measurement protocols
• Advanced filtration system for ladle atmosphere conditions
• Precision cooling system designed for ladle thermal management
• Remote PC with comprehensive ladle campaign management capabilities

Ladle-Specific Measurements and Automation

Measurements can be performed manually, semi-automatically, or in fully automatic mode, seamlessly integrating with your ladle rotation schedule and maintenance cycles. The system can measure during ladle turnaround between heats or during scheduled maintenance periods.

Automation is implemented through MODBUS/TCP or OPC UA interface, with custom protocols available to match your ladle management systems.

The interface automatically captures critical ladle operational data, including:

• Heat number and ladle sequence tracking
• Ladle campaign number and age
• Steel grade and treatment history
• Ladle metallurgy process parameters
• Argon flow rates and stirring times
• Temperature profiles and thermal cycling data

In fully automatic mode, ANTERIS 360 integrates with your ladle management system, performing scheduled measurements and providing real-time campaign status updates.

Ladle-Focused Features

Specialised Ladle Analysis Capabilities:

• Slag Line Wear Monitoring: Track critical wear in the primary deterioration zone
• Bottom Refractory Assessment: Monitor bottom thickness and prevent breakout risks
• Argon Stirring Impact Analysis: Assess wear around gas stirring plugs and optimise stirring parameters
• Sidewall Condition Monitoring: Track thermal damage and mechanical wear patterns
• Ladle Shroud Zone Analysis: Monitor impact areas and optimise pouring operations
• Campaign Lifecycle Management: Complete the ladle campaign tracking with predictive maintenance

The system displays ladle profiles automatically within three seconds after scan completion. Overlay functions allow comparison of multiple measurements throughout the campaign to track wear progression and optimise ladle utilisation.

Ladle-Specific Customisation Options

Tailored Output for Ladle Operations:

• Ladle-specific dimensional analysis templates for various ladle sizes
• Automated slag line wear rate calculations
• Bottom thickness mapping with safety threshold alerts
• Argon plug wear assessment and replacement scheduling
• Integration with ladle metallurgy process optimisation
• Automatic volume calculations for accurate steel capacity management

Pre-defined zoom views focus on critical ladle areas such as slag lines, argon plugs, and bottom corners. Historical wear rate analysis correlates with steel grades and treatment parameters to optimise both steel quality and ladle life.

Ladle Process Integration

Comprehensive Ladle Management:

• Integration with ladle scheduling and rotation systems
• Correlation with ladle metallurgy treatment parameters
• Steel grade impact analysis on refractory wear
• Automatic alerts for campaign end predictions
• Export capabilities for ladle gunning and repair robots
• Real-time ladle availability optimisation

Campaign Management Excellence:

• Complete ladle campaign database with historical trending
• Predictive analytics for optimal campaign termination
• Steel quality correlation with ladle condition
• Maintenance planning integration with production schedules
• Cost optimisation through extended campaign life

Uncompromising Ladle Support

Vesuvius provides specialised preventive maintenance plans designed to keep your ANTERIS 360 system operating at peak performance in the demanding ladle environment. Our ladle-experienced technicians understand the unique challenges of secondary steelmaking and provide:

• 24/7 dedicated ladle support hotline with metallurgical expertise
• Ladle-specific troubleshooting and calibration services
• Emergency on-site support within 48 hours
• Remote ladle system diagnostics and campaign analysis
• Ladle-optimised software updates and wear analysis algorithms

ANTERIS 360 Ladle Specifications

Optimised for Ladle Environments:

• 300,000 Hz laser rep rate, 120,000 Hz scan rate for rapid ladle measurements
• 3.6 mm diameter laser beam with superior performance in Ladle atmospheric conditions
• Outstanding detection of ladle-specific wear patterns and slag line deterioration
• IR laser beam unaffected by ladle process emissions and residual heat - 100% eye safe
• Ladle-specific calibration with advanced wear pattern recognition

Ladle-Unique Technical Capabilities:

• A full hemispherical scan captures the complete ladle interior, including the bottom geometry.
• Industry's most compact scanner for easy integration with ladle handling systems
• Shortest total scanning time (ladle availability loss < 1 minute)
• Single scan captures 100% of the ladle interior in a 110°×360° window
• Specialised ladle wear analysis and campaign optimisation algorithms
• Advanced bottom thickness monitoring with breakout prevention alerts

Built for Ladle Excellence: ANTERIS 360 delivers the precision, speed, and reliability that ladle operations demand, helping you maximise campaign life, optimise steel quality, prevent breakouts, and maintain safe, efficient secondary steelmaking and steel transport operations with comprehensive campaign management capabilities.