The service requirements for steel ladles in an integrated steel plant have grown continually during the years to include some form of steel treatment in nearly every ladle:

• Argon purging for simple thermal and compositional homogenisation
• Electric arc heating
• Degassing
• Alloying
• Inclusion modification and capture

Each of these treatments requires its own lining concept. Expertise, experience and a broad product range are essential for the development of successful lining designs. LWB delivers solutions based on various products: basic or non-basic, burnt or tempered, shaped or unshaped – always adapted to meet the specific needs of a steel plant.

In most cases, doloma is one of the lowest cost solutions – with the advantage of LWB's high-quality raw material resources. But doloma alone is not sufficient to meet the requirements of a modern steel plant.

Today, ladle linings are a composite of different refractory materials and shapes compatible with the individual conditions of the steel plant. LWB products, service and know-how are the keys for lining durability and lowest costs, while meeting high environmental standards.

The success of a metallurgical treatment and the overall performance and economics of any ladle depend to a large extent on the reliability of auxiliary components, such as well blocks, stir plug systems, impact pads and lip blocks. LWB Refractories has developed the technology to manufacture these components from alumina or basic raw materials.