Develops and installs measurement technology for slag detection, surface and oil film measurement in steel and aluminium plants.
AMEPA Angewandte Messtechnik und Prozessautomatisierung GmbH
Würselen, Germany · Solon, OH, USA · Shanghai, ChinaNew on Amplifa
Measurement technology for the steel, aluminium and automotive industries
AMEPA GmbH, headquartered in Würselen, was founded in 1984 as a spin-off of RWTH Aachen and develops measurement system solutions for the steel, aluminium and automotive industries. The portfolio includes electromagnetic slag detection (ESD 300/400), thermographic slag detection TSD 2.0, electromagnetic residual steel detection RSD 300 for casting distributors, and online measurement systems for roughness (SRM 100), waviness (WMS 100) and oil films (OFM 300, OFIS 3.0). The systems are used under the harshest environmental conditions such as dust, heat and electromagnetic fields – from the production of high-purity functional steels to forming tribology in rolling and pressing processes. More than 500 AMEPA systems are installed in over 50 countries; customers include Salzgitter Flachstahl and British Steel, among others. Branches in the USA and China as well as a worldwide sales and service network with commissioning, remote service, service contracts and an in-house calibration laboratory ensure on-site support.
- Site
- Würselen
- Processes
- Electromagnetic slag detection (ESD 300/400), Electromagnetic residual steel detection (RSD 300), Thermographic slag detection (TSD 2.0), Online roughness measurement (SRM 100), Online waviness measurement (WMS 100), Online oil film measurement (OFM 300), Portable oil film measurement (OFIS 3.0), Custom adaptation and integration of the measuring systems into the customer environment
- Materials
- Steel, Molten steel / functional steels, Aluminium, Electromagnetic slag detection, Electromagnetic slag detection, dual-channel technology, Electromagnetic residual steel detection, Thermographic slag detection, Online roughness measurement
- Certificates
- Automated validation units, In-house calibration laboratory, Remote service, Annual inspections (service contracts)
- Founded
- 1984
- Industries
- Steel industry, Aluminium industry, Automotive industry
- 01
Consulting and concept phase
- 02
Development and engineering of the measuring systems
- 03
Custom adaptation and integration into the customer environment
- 04
Commissioning
- 05
Calibration in the in-house calibration laboratory
- 06
Remote service, service contracts and spare parts supply
Measuring methods and measurement principles
Electromagnetic slag detection
An eddy-current sensor at the ladle outlet detects slag entrainment and controls the automatic closing of the slide gate for clean steel.
Electromagnetic slag detection, dual-channel technology
Dual-channel system with particle detection for increased signal sensitivity during slag-free pouring of molten steel.
Electromagnetic residual steel detection
A sensor with transmitter and receiver coils measures the residual steel level in the casting distributor from 0 to 20 cm above the refractory lining.
Thermographic slag detection
An infrared camera in the long-wave infrared range detects slag entrainment at the converter or electric furnace tap without sensors inside the vessel.
Online roughness measurement
Laser line projection with 2D laser triangulation measures Ra 0.3 to 3 µm contactlessly at strip speeds of up to 2000 m/min.
Online waviness measurement
A stitching method using projected laser lines determines Wsa 0.1 to 1 µm at strip speeds of up to 180 m/min.
Online oil film measurement
MIR infrared spectroscopy with two traversing units measures oil film thicknesses contactlessly directly on the moving strip.
Portable oil film measurement
Handheld device (400 x 145 mm, 3.4 kg, IP 54) with MIR spectroscopy for mobile oil film thickness measurement up to 5 g/m².
Locations
Würselen
DEHeadquarters, development, sales and service
- Materials
- Steel, aluminium
- Calibration laboratory with precision scales and calibration stations
- Remote service
- AMEPA REPORT database and reporting software
Solon, OH
USBranch office for sales and service (AMEPA America Inc.)
Shanghai
CNBranch office for sales and service (AMEPA Trading Shanghai Co., Ltd.)
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electromagnetic slag detection (ESD 300/400)Testing | – | – | – | – | Steel, molten steel |
| Electromagnetic residual steel detection (RSD 300)Testing | – | – | – | – | Steel, molten steel |
| Thermographic slag detection (TSD 2.0)Testing | – | – | – | – | Steel, molten steel |
| Online roughness measurement (SRM 100)Testing | ± 10 % compared to tactile measurement (automotive grades) | – | – | – | Steel (Z, ZE, ZF, each with EDT, EBT or PRETEX texturing), Aluminium (mill finish and EDT) |
| Online waviness measurement (WMS 100)Testing | – | – | – | – | , Aluminium (mill finish and EDT) |
| Online oil film measurement (OFM 300)Testing | – | – | – | – | Steel, Aluminium |
| Portable oil film measurement (OFIS 3.0)Testing | – | 400 mm x 145 mm (device dimensions) | 3.4 kg incl. rechargeable battery | – | , Aluminium |
8 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electromagnetic slag detection system (eddy-current sensor) | AMEPA ESD 300 | – | – | – | – |
| Electromagnetic slag detection system, dual-channel technology (particle detection) | AMEPA ESD 400 | – | – | – | – |
| Electromagnetic residual steel detector (sensor with transmitter and receiver coils) | AMEPA RSD 300 | – | Measuring range 0 to 20 cm above the refractory lining of the distributor bottom | – | – |
| – | AMEPA TSD 2.0 | – | – | – | – |
| Online roughness measuring system (laser line projection, 2D laser triangulation, CMOS camera) | AMEPA SRM 100 | – | – | – | – |
| Online waviness measuring system (laser line projection, stitching method) | AMEPA WMS 100 | – | Measuring line 1200 x 3.5 µm, Wsa measurement up to 180 m/min strip speed, measuring frequency up | – | – |
| Online oil film measuring system (MIR infrared spectroscopy, 2 traversing units, photometer) | AMEPA OFM 300 | – | – | – | – |
| Portable oil film measuring device (handheld device, MIR spectroscopy, PbSe detector) | AMEPA OFIS 3.0 | – | Dimensions 400 mm x 145 mm, protection class IP 54 | – | – |
Additional services
Reference customers
Quality and service
The measurement integrity of the systems is verified by automated validation units; calibrations for oil film measurement are performed in the in-house calibration laboratory at the Würselen headquarters. Service contracts with annual inspections, remote service and support for internal and external audits ensure the long-term functionality of the systems.
| Evidence | Würselen |
|---|---|
| Automated validation units | |
| In-house calibration laboratory | |
| Remote service | |
| Annual inspections (service contracts) |
Chronology
- 1984
Founded as a spin-off of the Technical University of Aachen (RWTH Aachen)
- 1999
Introduction of thermographic slag detection TSD
- 2020
Commencement of business operations of AMEPA Trading Shanghai as successor to the representative office in China
- 2023
Salzgitter Flachstahl converts all plants to the ESD 300 slag detection system