Title

INSTALLATION OF SIEFLEX® OIL LUBRICATED TUBE SPINDLES AT NORTHSTAR-BLUESCOPE STEEL

INSTALLATION OF SIEFLEX® OIL LUBRICATED TUBE SPINDLES AT NORTHSTAR-BLUESCOPE STEEL

Authorship

Hoffman, Keith; Sundermann, Christoph; Malan, William; Knoblauch, Steffen

Hoffman, Keith

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Sundermann, Christoph

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Malan, William

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Knoblauch, Steffen

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DOI

10.5151/2594-5297-20507

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Abstract

North Star BlueScope Steel is a 50-50 joint venture between BlueScope Steel and Cargill Inc. The plant was constructed in 1997 as a medium-slab caster mini-mill designed to supply hot band coils to both Steel Service Centers and end users. Since the plant’s commissioning, North Star BlueScope has continued to upgrade its processes and equipment toward greater productivity via increased reliability. Most recently the plant has completed the replacement of the original grease lubricated spindles with modern oil-lubricated tube-type spindles to eliminate a recurring source of maintenance costs and associated downtime. This paper will open with an overview of the NorthStar BlueScope facility including some history of other reliability related upgrades that have been implemented over the years. It will then discuss the reasons for replacing the grease lubricated spindles, the rationale for selecting oil- lubricated tube type spindles, and the process of making the conversion. It will conclude with a cost-benefit analysis and overall savings realized at the hot mill.

North Star BlueScope Steel is a 50-50 joint venture between BlueScope Steel and Cargill Inc. The plant was constructed in 1997 as a medium-slab caster mini-mill designed to supply hot band coils to both Steel Service Centers and end users. Since the plant’s commissioning, North Star BlueScope has continued to upgrade its processes and equipment toward greater productivity via increased reliability. Most recently the plant has completed the replacement of the original grease lubricated spindles with modern oil-lubricated tube-type spindles to eliminate a recurring source of maintenance costs and associated downtime. This paper will open with an overview of the NorthStar BlueScope facility including some history of other reliability related upgrades that have been implemented over the years. It will then discuss the reasons for replacing the grease lubricated spindles, the rationale for selecting oil- lubricated tube type spindles, and the process of making the conversion. It will conclude with a cost-benefit analysis and overall savings realized at the hot mill.

Keywords

Spindle; Lubrication; Oil.

Spindle; Lubrication; Oil.