Flexible burden distribution control is one of the key tools in theiron making process, providing the operator with the means tocontrol, influence and improve furnace operation overcominglimitations presented by the raw materials.The SIMETALCIS Gimbal Top charging system, as part of theoverall Furnace Top, offers an infinitely flexible, fully-integratedcharging solution for minimal investment, generating significantimprovement in blast furnace operation and maintenance cost.

The paper introduces a slop detection algorithm, based on imagestaken by a CMOS camera aimed at the converter mouth. Theproposed algorithm, with an accuracy and selectivity of 74%and 94% respectively, is relatively simple and can therefore easilybe used in on-line applications.

The attachment mechanism of inclusions to bubbles hasbeen studied with water model experiments under turbulentcondition. Change in particle-number concentration indicatesthat the removal rate follows first order kinetics. It increaseswith particle diameters and particle contact angles.

Some highlights from the Jernkontoret Research with focus onthe modeling work of the last decade are presented. First theconcept of a fundamental mathematical model is discussed.Thereafter, a short review of growth and separation modelsbased on fundamental modeling of ladles is presented. Then,recent modeling efforts within Jernkontoret's Research arehighlighted.

Raw materials like metals and minerals contribute by 40% tothe production costs of the industry, whereas the costs forenergy are about 1.6%. Although these figures are for thetotal industrial production, the figures show that it can beexpected that there is a great potential for cost savings in thesteel production, too.

Thin organic coated steels have been widely used in thebuilding industry due to their formability, anticorrosive and antifingerprint characteristics. In this work paintability propertiesof these coated steels were studied. Several thin organic coatedsteel sheets were treated by means of a roll coater followingstandard procedures (primer + topcoat) and only with topcoat(in this case, the thin organic coating was used as a primer).Characterization tests were carried out in terms of gloss,hardness, adherence and corrosion resistance.

Fatigue design of structures for high temperature serviceresorts to modelling based on elasto-viscoplasticity constitutivelaws. The new model describes complex anisothermal cyclicloadings, accounting for viscosity on a large range of strain.The new constitutive law that has been developed for nodularcast iron, is intended for the design of automotive parts forhigh temperature service.