Operation and Technical Development of Wide Slab Continuous Caster at Nippon Kokan

The first continuous casting plant of Nippon Kokan was commissioned on March 23, 1967, at the Plate Dept. of Keihin Works. The one-strand machine is of curcular type for casting a slab of 200 × 1600 mm², which was planned and constructed by Demag-Stranggiess-Technik and Hitachi Shipbuilding Ltd., with the operational know-how of Mannessmann A. G. The nominal capacity of this machine is 20,000 tons/M. This capacity was reached within six months after beginning operation and in December 1968, 40435 ton/M. was cast without any breakout from the start. A monthly production of over 40,000 tons can be maintained in the future. These results are due to complete mastering of the continuous casting technique and to various technical developments and research which is still being conducted by the steel shop and the Research Center.