Microsoft and Tenova system to promote digital transformation in the iron and steel industry

Thanks to this integrated system with multiple integrated sensors and actuators, plant machines will be enabled to manage the specific productive process as well as to provide the operators or AI algorithms with specific information on their own conditions, detected autonomously, through dedicated measurements and reporting with respect to specific events.

Decentralised intelligence, by evaluating the information derived from sensors, will elaborate in real-time the possible behavioural scenarios, providing functions of monitoring and predictive maintenance. The system may also make available the opportunity to reset specific configurations automatically or to modify functioning parameters to achieve the optimal configuration of the plant.

A service portfolio of high added value, thanks to the network connection of the machines, will allow to capitalise the data from machines and plants to optimise production, so to guarantee a prompt remote assistance and minimise downtime.

Through the partnership with Microsoft, Tenova will be able to provide even more efficient and innovative metals production plants, compliant with the strict regulations on safety and environmental sustainability. The system will be realised thanks to three factors: the possibility to connect the plant machines (involved in each productivity phase) to Azure cloud platform; the high computational power; and the application of provisional algorithms, based on machine learning technologies – available on the cloud platform.

The definite advantages of this Industry 4.0 solution are numerous and measurable. The system will allow to increase the overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) index, reduce energy consumption, getvaluable remote assistance by Tenova specialists to lower maintenance costs and downtime, guarantee flexibility in order management according to customers’ business plans and equipment conditions, control the plant more effectively through a comprehensive overview of single components.

“Technological innovation represents a major commitment for Tenova and a crucial factor in the company’s growth strategy, and we found in Microsoft a key ally to bring about digital transformation. Thanks to cloud computing, IoT, and machine learning technologies by Microsoft, we are able to develop a 4.0 solution which represents our best recipe to contribute the future of the iron and steel industry. The goal is to make plants always more intelligent and connected, to offer services of high added value by analysing the data from machines to optimise production, and to help our customers to achieve their business objectives”, affirmed Andrea Lovato, Tenova CEO.

“The Italian iron and steel industry represents a driving sector of the European manufacturing industry. Our country excels both in steel quality and in the level of innovation of metals production machines, a crucial factor to be competitive in the market and face the challenges of globalisation successfully. In order to preserve the Italian competitive advantage, it is fundamental to invest in technological innovation. This is the path that Tenova has decided to follow together with Microsoft, by developing a brand-new industrial solution which enables iron and steel firms to optimize their productive performances and safeguard the qualitative standard of products. Through our collaboration, we aim to lead the digital transformation process of the Italian iron and steel industry and boost, as a consequence, the competitiveness manufacturing sector”, stated Fabio Moioli, Director of the Enterprise Services Division at Microsoft Italy.

Read the article online at: https://www.drybulkmagazine.com/product-news/16062017/microsoft-and-tenova-system-to-promote-digital-transformation-in-the-iron-and-steel-industry/