OIT Times: Pittsburgh Showcase Demonstrates Latest Technology Advances in Steel Industry

June 21, 2000

On May 3-5, 2000, OIT, the steel industry, and the State of Pennsylvania hosted "A Celebration of New Steel--the Pittsburgh Regional Technology Showcase." The events --launched by DOE Assistant Secretary Dan Reicher--demonstrated several energy efficiency and productivity advancements now benefitting the industry. Guests from throughout the steel industry, equipment suppliers, trade associations, national labs, universities, and government attended the event that featured plant tours and technical sessions by some of the nation's leading steel researchers.

The steel industry is a participant in OIT's "Industries of the Future" initiative. OIT, the American Iron and Steel Institute, the Steel Manufacturer's Assoc., and the State of Pennsylvania partner to develop and deploy more energy efficient technologies and practices. The Showcase highlighted the steel industry's continued progress in achieving its vision of the future through industry/government partnerships and energy-saving technologies and processes resulting from this partnership. The Showcase demonstrated the benefit of these partnerships through plant tours, exhibits, and technical sessions.

The event emphasized the importance of steel to the U.S. economy and the valuable role of Federal support in maintaining the industry's long-term competitiveness. Moreover, the Showcase demonstrated the many ways DOE is working with industry to improve efficiency and productivity through all facets of manufacturing and plant operations.

Participants attended breakout sessions on May 4 addressing such topics as:

Pennsylvania steel technology initiatives
Plant technologies and energy use analysis
R&D
Federal Government funding and assistance
opportunities
Best practices for higher productivity

The showcase featured plant tours at Weirton Steel, U.S. Steel's Edgar Thomson, and Koppel Steel facilities. During the tours, attendees witnessed a number of advanced steel manufacturing technologies in operation. Such technologies were developed with support from OIT's Steel Team as well as hundreds of partners from the steel industry and academia. These partners perform cost-shared R&D to address both DOE's national energy efficiency goals and industry goals such as those outlined in the steel industry's technology roadmap. The partnership has resulted in numerous technology advances that have been implemented at plants such as those toured at the event.

The plant tours demonstrated how OIT-supported R&D and Best practices are enhancing the quality of steel and energy efficiency through featured technologies including:

Double-ended laser basic oxygen furnace optical sensor
Galvanneal temperature measurement sensor
Infrared-based preheating of strip, nickel aluminide radiant tubes
Nickel aluminide steel rolls
Laser-based blast furnace burden temperature measurement sensor
Basic oxygen furnace contour scannerless sensor
A series of case studies examining improved control, steam, and compressed air systems

On May 5, showcase participants attended a Congressional Field Hearing on The Future of the Steel Industry and the Role of Technology. Chaired by U.S. Representative Mike Doyle, the hearing featured remarks by Senator Rick Santorum, and U.S. Representatives Ron Klink and Frank R. Mascarao!ll from the Pennsylvania state delegation. During the panel discussion, several witnesses provided testimony emphasizing the importance of government/industry partnerships. Statements were provided by Thomas A. Danjczek, President of the Steel Manufacturers Assoc.; Richard K. Riederer, President and CEO of Weirton Steel Corp.; Paul Wilhelm, President of the U.S. Steel Group and Vice Chairman of the USX Corp.; J. Roy Murray, Director of the Collective Bargaining Services Dept. of the Steel Workers of America, and OITo3 Denise Swink.

Approximately 100 local college students attended the Showcase and participated in presentations and plant tours specially tailored for this group. In addition, an exhibit hall featured industry and government displays related to steel technology. During the event, Denise Swink presented an award to Curtis H. Barnette, Chairman Emeritus of Bethlehem Steel Corp., in recognition of his special contributions to the steel industry partnership with DOE.

o Celebration of New Steelo was the second technology showcase jointly sponsored by DOE and the steel industry. Bethlehem Steel hosted the first showcase at its Burns Harbor, IN plant. Plans are underway for a third steel showcase due to the success in Pittsburgh.