PRODUCT REVIEWS
Vacuum coating for high-strength steels
NEOVAC, a joint venture between SMS group GmbH and SITIZN Group Holding AG( based in Karlstein, Germany) offers a new technology for coating steel strip, which was specially developed for high-strength and ultra-high-strength steels.
“ This innovative solution is based on a‘ cold’ process that does not alter the material properties and ensures maximum coating quality,” it told ISMR.
“ Our line is a milestone in metal processing,” outlined André Herzog, CTO of NEOVAC.“ We can now coat high-strength materials that could not previously be coated using conventional means due to their sensitivity to high temperatures, for example. This unlocks new possibilities for using ultrahigh-strength materials with active corrosion protection in the automotive, aerospace and lightweight construction sectors.”
The vacuum coating technology offers technical and ecological benefits. When using renewable electricity, the coating process is carbon-neutral( contributing significantly to sustainability). Alongside higher energyefficiency levels during coating compared to conventional processes, the consumption of resources is also considerably lower as less material is required for a uniform, even coating.
NEOVAC vacuum coating line.
According to the company no damage to the strip is caused by process-induced hydrogen and there is lower resource consumption compared to electrolytic coating processes. There are also no process-related CO₂ emissions, it confirmed.
“ The 170-ton pilot line installed in Karlstein is a discontinuous vacuum coating line for steel coils. Coils with a maximum weight of up to five tons, an uncoiled length of up to 1000 metres and a width of up to 650mm are fed into an evacuated chamber after wet cleaning. This is where a three-stage process consisting of plasma pre-treatment, magnetron-based pre-coating and a newly developed plasmaenhanced evaporation solution( thermal zinc evaporation via nozzles) is used,” it explained.
“ From a technical point of view, the zinc is evaporated at temperatures above 600 ° C, but the precipitation onto the strip takes
Image: SMS group GmbH. place during a‘ cold’ process below 200 ° C and without hydrogen input. This achieves a targeted growth of layers with defined grain sizes and high adhesive strength, with minimal influence on the microstructure. This technique has already been used to coat a wide range of steel grades. Particularly noteworthy are ultrahigh-strength steel strip with tensile strengths of up to 1,500 MPa,” added the manufacturer.
The system is now ready for use in series production, offering customers a scalable solution to meet their individual needs. NEOVAC invites interested companies to order test coatings and experience the technology first-hand. The line is designed to switch from a coil-to-coil to a continuous production process for greater efficiency levels. n
www
. sms-group. com
Six S-series cranes for Contibelt Austria
Konecranes has completed the delivery and installation of six S-series overhead cranes for Contibelt Band Systeme GmbH at its manufacturing facility in Stockerau, Austria.
“ Contibelt manufactures steel belts for conveyor systems, and the new cranes will support the safe and efficient handling of heavy steel coils throughout the production process. The order was placed at the end of 2024, with final installation completed in July 2025,” confirmed Konecranes.
The six Konecranes S-series cranes have lifting capacities ranging from 5 to 10 tons. Each runway supports two cranes operating in tandem, equipped with controls for synchronised lifting— an essential feature for moving steel coils through various production stages. To enhance safety, control and productivity, the cranes include:
■ Anti-collision systems to help prevent crane-to-crane contact.
■ Tandem lifting for coordinated handling across paired cranes.
■ Variable frequency drives for smooth acceleration and deceleration.
■ Load positioning controls to enable precise coil placement onto processing equipment.
“ We’ ve had a strong working relationship with Konecranes for many years. Some of our cranes had already far exceeded their expected service life. Additionally, we needed more modern control systems and higher load capacities. That’ s why we invited several crane manufacturers to develop a solution that would meet our increased requirements without requiring any changes to the building. Only Konecranes was able to deliver. We’ re
very satisfied with the solution and with how the work was carried out,” said Mario Mihaljevic, Sales Manager, Contibelt Austria.
“ This project continues a longstanding relationship between Konecranes and Contibelt, where we previously delivered cranes for its material handling in 2017. These new cranes are tailored to meet its current production demands with enhanced safety, control and operational efficiency,” added Markus Köcher, Director, IC, South East Europe, Konecranes.
A strong focus on customers, commitment to business growth and continuous improvement make Konecranes a global specialist in material-handling solutions. This is underpinned by investments in digitalisation and technology, as well as efforts to make material flows more efficient with solutions designed to decarbonise the economy and advance circularity and safety. n
www. konecranes. com
116 | ismr. net | ISMR October 2025