NLMK Clabecq has launched “InThinity”, an advanced process technology for producing quarto heavy plates with high precision, standardly achieving thicknesses of up to 15 mm. According to NLMK Clabecq, InThinity marks a significant advancement in delivering thin steel plates with consistently tight thickness tolerances.
The new technology is a result of investments made to modernize NLMK Clabecq’s finishing mill. Upgrades include Hydraulic Gauge Control (HGC), advanced flatness management, and new primary and secondary descalers operating at 250 and 130 bars, respectively. Completed in late 2023, this modernization has improved thickness stability, rolling precision, and energy efficiency, catering to industries such as transport, construction, and energy, where accuracy is essential.
InThinity also enhances the structural integrity of the plates by ensuring even stress distribution, which improves mechanical properties. The increased precision allows for thinner plates without sacrificing strength, offering potential weight savings and greater design flexibility for manufacturers. For applications requiring tighter tolerances, the InThinity+ option delivers even higher accuracy for critical projects.
Philippe Hernaut, Head of Quality at NLMK Clabecq, explains, “InThinity ensures thickness tolerances that significantly exceed industry standards. For thicknesses between 3.00 mm and 5.00 mm, tolerances decrease from 1.00 mm (according to EN 10029) to 0.60 mm with InThinity, and further to a guaranteed 0.40 mm with InThinity+.”
The InThinity process is facilitated by a revamped finishing mill featuring four independent rolling stands, allowing for precise adjustments during production. This ensures uniform thickness across the plates and enhances flatness, reducing the need for rework and improving efficiency in operations such as cutting and bending.
With its unique process layout featuring a 2,800-mm wide, four-stand tandem finishing mill, NLMK Clabecq produces steel plates of various thicknesses ranging from 3 to 120 mm for construction, shipbuilding, energy industries, transport, quarrying and mining equipment manufacturers. Its current production capacity is 750,000 tons a year.
