Bokaro: Executive Director (Works) of Bokaro Steel Plant, Priya Ranjan, emphasised the critical importance of regular and preventative maintenance of reheating furnaces while addressing participants after administering the safety pledge. He stressed the need to control scale and rust formation, stating that this not only increases furnace life but also significantly improves product quality and operational costs.
Workshop Overview
A LEO (Learning, Excellence & Optimization) workshop was organised on November 18th under the joint aegis of the HR-L&D Department and the Hot Strip Mill Department of Bokaro Steel Plant on the important topic of increasing reheating furnace campaign life and reducing scale formation in the furnace. Other distinguished officials also underscored the importance of the LEO initiative, describing it as an excellent means of strengthening technical knowledge and establishing inter-unit collaboration.
Distinguished Presence
Present at the formal inauguration of the workshop were Executive Director (Works), Priya Ranjan, Executive Director (Operations), A.K. Dutt and other senior officials. In his welcome address, Chief General Manager (HSM), P.K. Verma, stated the workshop’s objective as promoting technical excellence and collaboration in the areas of furnace maintenance, performance optimisation, and campaign life improvement.
Participant Network
Engineers, maintenance professionals, and furnace experts from various SAIL units, as well as from other steel plants and industrial partner organisations, actively participated in the program. Representatives from SAIL’s Bhilai, Rourkela, Bokaro, IISCO Burnpur, and Durgapur Steel Plants, RDCIS, JSW Vijaynagar Works, Jindal Steel Plant, Odisha, and industrial partners such as Danieli India and Fives Stein India participated in the workshop. The event proved to be an excellent collaborative platform for the exchange of knowledge related to technological innovation, advanced technology, and operational efficiency.
Technical Focus
The main objectives of the workshop included developing an understanding of techniques to extend furnace life and measures to reduce scale/rust formation, and exchanging best practices between various units. During the technical sessions, topics such as the process and root causes of scale formation, advanced preventative maintenance, refractory strategies, temperature control, and automation were discussed in depth. Furnace life enhancement recommendations from OEM partners, along with digital monitoring and condition-based maintenance, were also highlighted.
Outcomes and Impact
The event resulted in a better understanding of furnace life enhancement and scale reduction, and strengthened technical collaboration between SAIL units and industrial partners. This workshop strongly reflects BSL’s commitment to creating a healthy, technologically aware, and empowered industrial environment.
