Many key components from a single source

When steel slabs from continuous casting are formed into strips, sheets, or profiles, this often involves the use of drive components from Ringspann’s "one-stop shop." Many plant manufacturers in the steel and metal industries have discovered that they can source numerous key drive technology components from this single provider. Manufacturers and operators of continuous casting plants, hot and cold rolling mills, slitting and processing lines, bridles and leveling machines, as well as surface finishing systems, are currently among those leveraging the benefits of this comprehensive product range.

Semi-finished products and raw stock in the steel and metal industries are heavyweights; handling, processing, and refining them invariably requires the application of immense force. Consequently, to implement the necessary drive systems, industry plant manufacturers, operators, and maintenance teams require high-quality components designed for heavy-duty applications. A wide selection of these drive elements can be found in Ringspann’s one-stop shop. Its constantly expanding portfolio—tailored to the steel industry—currently includes gear couplings, steel-laminate couplings, cardan shafts, shaft-hub connections, overload and safety clutches, backstops (freewheels), and industrial brakes and braking systems.

All these components are available in numerous versions and can often be combined into ready-to-install "Smart Solutions." "We frequently assemble custom combination solutions—such as a safety clutch with a cardan shaft, a backstop with a cardan shaft, or disc brakes with matching couplings and brake discs," explains Markus Berger, Managing Director of Ringspann Austria. Complementing this, the company offers a range of services, such as repair facilities for cardan shafts—including those from other manufacturers. In this way, design engineers working on drive trains for rolling mills and slitting lines, or on braking systems for crane hoists, receive professionally coordinated, ready-to-install component kits; meanwhile, purchasing managers at equipment manufacturers save significant procurement effort, as they can reliably source many drive-related machine elements from a single, well-known—and internationally certified—supplier.

Broad portfolio, high availability

Thanks to the breadth of its current portfolio, Ringspann does more than just supply key drive components for the many central process stages of steel and metal processing. Leveraging its extensive in-house manufacturing capabilities, consulting expertise, and development know-how, the company is also able to support its customers as a long-term technology partner. Developing custom configurations and special solutions is an integral part of the Ringspann portfolio. Furthermore, thanks to strategic warehousing capacities and an international presence—the Group now comprises 22 companies worldwide—the company can guarantee high availability for virtually all its components. "Given the current supply chain challenges, this is a huge advantage for any equipment manufacturer," emphasizes Markus Berger.

The market is growing, but...

Overall, analysts project that the global steel and metal processing market will grow to approximately 14 trillion dollars by 2030. At first glance, this figure seems massive. However, since the number of steel mills, smelters, and processing plants is expected to decline, sales opportunities for the industry's equipment manufacturers and suppliers will shrink. This is leading to increasingly fierce competition, making it crucial for plant and machinery manufacturers to have reliable, broadly positioned suppliers with an international outlook by their side. “Against this backdrop in particular, Ringspann is an attractive partner for manufacturers of hot and cold rolling mills, casting plants, slitting and cut-to-length lines, leveling systems, coil handling and conveying equipment, and surface finishing systems. With our broad and technologically sophisticated product portfolio, our international presence, and our cross-disciplinary industry expertise, we offer OEMs the high level of reliability and flexibility they need to continue delivering competitive machinery and plant solutions in the future,” says Markus Berger. ms

Author: Michael Stöcker, freelance technical journalist, Darmstadt