Customer orientation, flexibility and safety

Customer orientation, flexibility and safety - these key words are the top paradigm for viable steel production. To meet the high demands of long-steel production, there is no way of getting around industry 4.0 in the medium to long term.

The SCHMOLZ + BICKENBACH Group sees itself as the technology leader among long-steel producers worldwide. The topic of industry 4.0 is already on our agenda in the context of digitization and the intelligent use of data.

Are digital technologies already in the pipeline at your company or in the process of being introduced? And if so, which ones?

In 2016, we at Group subsidiary Swiss Steel took steps to introduce Steel Production 4.0. The entire coil-handling segment was updated to state-of-the-art and now affords maximum flexibility in the further processing of steel. Central to the new coil-handling process is the high level of automation.

Process parameters are fully documented electronically, and the material flow is always transparent. Intelligent data analysis gives a degree of design freedom to customized development projects.

We are currently expanding our measures in the area of Industry 4.0 and making the most of the synergy effects in the area of material and technology competences of our sister companies Swiss Steel and Steeltec.

What do you consider the future trends for your line of business?

We consider Industry 4.0 solutions to be a key factor in always staying a step ahead of the competition in the special long-steel segment.

The focus is on continuous improvement and proactive error prevention in the production process and in the entire supply chain: from the manufacture of individual steel parts to their machining into components up to their assembly and operation.