Viktor Lussi from the Wheelabrator TC explains why this particular machine is special: “Our HB range is the market leading solution for strip descaling, with its flexible design and high performance. The unique 5-module design of this new machine shows the degree to which we can adapt the concept for very specific requirements – and how our team here in Zürich keeps pushing the boundaries of an established technology.”

Connecting the five blast chambers in series was necessary to accommodate the required blast power within a shorter-than-usual space in a completely new end-to-end processing line.

The new HB machine is only 28.5 m long and is scheduled for commissioning in April 2017.

Each of the 5 chambers houses four powerful U105x500 blast wheels, the combined blast power of 2200kW from the 20 wheels ensures efficient descaling at high through-feed speeds of up to 151 m/min.

The TC has previously designed HB machine arrangements with up to six modules, but this had been achieved by linking separate 2- to 3-module machines, taking up considerably more space.

Machines in the HB range can be installed with or without foundation pits and can process steel strip of 600 – 2100mm width.

Thanks to the staggered positioning of each set of blast wheels, the machines achieve strip surface finishes of superior quality.

See how it works in this short animation below.