From a single source: Sample preparation for the steel industry. From the global market leader.
Leading innovations since 1959: our solutions for the steel industry
Our company was established in 1959 to support quality control in the steel industry with smart solutions for sample preparation. Today, HERZOG is the leading supplier of sample preparation systems in the steel and iron industry. The world's leading steel companies rely on our systems for quality assurance and control of their production processes. This is a great statement about us as a company, our service orientation and our solutions.
From complete automation or a stand-alone product we provide steel companies with systems that perfectly match your requirements. Our integrated solutions ensure optimum preparation of steel, iron, and slag samples for optical emission spectroscopy (OES), X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) and combustion analysis.
Always focusing on the market: From our close cooperation with the most important steel producers worldwide, we know all the current challenges facing your industry. In our large in-house R&D department, we are working today on the innovations that will give you a head start in the market tomorrow. We look forward to working with you.
HERZOG Steel: our offer - your advantages:
Products and services perfectly tailored to the requirements of the steel industry
Reliable, reproducible sample preparation for highly precise and accurate analyses
Modular concept and standardization for maximum productivity and cost efficiency
Leading engineering expertise - for maximum flexibility and first-class performance
Premium quality from the market leader: in mechanical engineering, software, and Service
Sustainable investment security
Optimized for high speed and minimum throughput times
High availability and process reliability
Comprehensive safety concepts for effective occupational safety
leistungsstpowerful software:
Evaluation and monitoring of all relevant process and analysis data in the laboratory using PrepMaster Analytics
Convenient and simple operation of the systems using PrepMaster Core and PrepMaster Entry
Optimal for your application: Tailor-made configuration
As an experienced partner to the steel industry, we offer you all the services you need for your successful automation project from a single source: consulting, engineering, implementation, installation, commissioning, training, and maintenance.
Our solutions ensure perfect sample preparation - with short throughput times, high process reliability and an intelligent monitoring of all relevant process and analysis data. This gives you a solid basis for maximum analytical accuracy and precision.
Our portfolio of machines, automation components, software, and services specially designed for the steel industry is unique worldwide.
You benefit from this in several ways:
- A wide range of standard solutions
- Cost-effective realization of your requirements
- Less time required in the engineering phase
- Reduced CapEx
- leading engineering expertise
- globally operating engineering teams
- Individual extensions and adaptations to suit highly specialized processes
- 100 % application customization
- convincing performance
- high operational reliability
- Worldwide service teams
- Fast, smooth installation and commissioning
- Leading know-how and many years of experience
- Precise planning of all process steps
- Anticipation and elimination of potential sources of error
- High quality of machines and software
Fully automated steel mill laboratories from HERZOG include:
a pneumatic tube system for transporting samples to the central laboratory
Sample preparation for metallic samples and slag samples
the integration of the various analytical instruments
What you can expect from our integrated solutions:
Reliable performance: All HERZOG components are designed and coordinated to ensure maximum occupational and process reliability, speed and user-friendliness.
Customized sample preparation: Different sample shapes such as lollipop, double-thickness and cylindrical samples as well as oval and round samples are transported to the laboratory in the shortest possible time, unpacked, cooled, milled, ground, or processed to obtain combustion samples (punched pieces or chips). Slag samples are crushed, ground and either pelletized or fused for subsequent analysis.
Flexible integration: We are able to integrate analyzers from all relevant instrument manufacturers using our PrepMaster software. This enables fully automated analysis of all sample types. The complete integration of all relevant sample data - from sampling, sample transport and preparation to the final analysis - ensures the efficient utilization of your laboratory.
In a steelworks, time means money. Modern production methods require fast and frequent monitoring of the manufacturing process. HERZOG systems are therefore designed as high-speed solutions that ensure optimum performance of the entire production process.
Your advantages:
Speed-optimized sample handling and preparation
Intelligent sample management with PrepMaster Core software
Economic utilization of the system components
Simple prioritization of particularly urgent samples
Our software provides you with significant advantages: The HERZOG PrepMaster Suite is a fully integrated SCADA system that can be used for the automation, control, recording and evaluation of all processes and data in your laboratory. The PrepMaster Suite is fully scalable, modular, and flexibly upgradable. With the PrepMaster Core module, you are opting for proven monitoring and control software that has been specially developed for the requirements of steelworks.
PrepMaster Core at a glance:
- Module of the HERZOG PrepMaster Suite
- machine-oriented code
- High reliability
- Highest possible system availability
PrepMaster Core - Functions for your steel mill laboratory:
- adaptive and priority-controlled sample management
- for fast and smooth sample processing
- Intelligent routings
- Problem-free management of high sample volumes
- Preference of priority samples
- Management and control of reference and monitor samples
- for easy creation of laboratory-specific routines
- Configuration of reference sample parameters
- Compiling schedules
- automatic vision system
- Integrated SparkPoint module for high-resolution monitoring of sample orientation and surface and intelligent determination of spark points
- Highly precise positioning of the samples on the spark stand
- Monitoring the system status
- Numerous integrated service tools
- Quick diagnosis of the functional status of the system
- Easy error analysis
- Optimized system efficiency
Our smart industry module PrepMaster Analytics manages recording, documentation, evaluation and monitoring of all relevant data in your laboratory.
PrepMaster Analytics at a glance:
- Module of the HERZOG PrepMaster Suite
- Comprehensive overview of all important KPIs
- Improved process efficiencyverbesserte Prozesseffizienz
- Optimized reproducibility of sample preparation and analysis
PrepMaster Analytics - Functions for your steel laboratory:
- Heat Monitor
- Powerful tool for monitoring and controlling the production process
- Clearly structured overview of all analyses and calculated forecasts of the heat
- Authorization of users
- Selection and modification of transmission lines and dispatch to control room
- Sample Vita
- Automatic collection of all analytical and sample preparation data
- Check validation status of the sample according to ISO 17025
- Calculation of measurement uncertainty
- for individual instruments, sample types and analysis programs
- Integration of measurement uncertainty in the presentation and evaluation of analysis results
- Efficient, standard-compliant laboratory and process control
- Analysis of system performance
- Automatic collection and evaluation of all KPIs such as throughput times, availability, and workload
- Simple evaluation of individual sections such as transport times of the pneumatic system or time until OES Analysis
- Tool Condition Monitoring
- Module for monitoring the milling tools
- Cost-efficient use of the milling tips
- Milling result as the basis for accurate and precise analysis results
- Optional: TCM module for monitoring the performance of the vibratory disk mill
Steel industry: our solutions
All HERZOG Steel components have been specially developed to meet the challenges of your industry and are perfectly matched to each other. We offer you integrated solutions that are precisely tailored to your requirements and convince in every application.
HERZOG pneumatic tube systems transport samples reliably and quickly from the steelworks to the laboratory. Our various pneumatic tube and sample handling stations allow you to configure your system with absolute flexibility.
Precise sample transportation
As a rule, the samples are packed into the sample box by the operator in the steelworks and sent to the laboratory using the HR-HSK/L pneumatic plant station. The sample is registered quickly and easily using speed dial keys. The sample ID is usually provided by the PrepMaster Core software, which receives the necessary information via the interface to the steelworks' Level 2 system. Incorrect operation is virtually impossible thanks to the built-in sensor monitoring.
In addition, HERZOG also offers a fully automated sample transport solution that allows the sample to be packed and the carrier to be sent without the involvement of an operator.
Further processing of the samples
We offer various solutions for the further processing of samples in the laboratory: When using our HR-HS/B laboratory station, the robot removes the carrier and forwards it to the special unpacking stations. In the HERZOG HR-ES/L, metallic samples are sucked out, cooled, dried and passed on to the sample preparation circuit. The HR-ES station empties slag samples and transfers them to the slag line for further preparation.
Alternatively, the HERZOG HR-LSM removes metallic samples and slag samples from the carrier without the involvement of robots and unpacking stations. This not only saves time, but also allows the realization of individual system configurations and layouts.
The HR-LSV laboratory offers particularly fast sample handling. Here, the robot uses a patented vacuum system to suck the sample out of the carrier and transfers it to the sample cooling or milling machine. This technology eliminates the need for mechanical sample orientation and can therefore save valuable seconds during the sample preparation process.
The analytical methods applied in the steel industry by means of optical emission spectroscopy (OES) and X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF analysis) are showing an increasing sensitivity. The sample preparation of the production, reference, and monitor samples to be analyzed therefore plays a crucial role for reliable, accurate and precise analysis results. Even minor contamination or a suboptimal surface structure can lead to serious interferences and delays in the analysis process or even to incorrect results.
Due to the segregation of alloying elements, production samples also have an inhomogeneous structure in the upper sample layers. Therefore, a sufficiently deep and reproducible removal of the upper parts of the sample is crucial to minimize measurement uncertainty and analytical bias. Steelworks worldwide rely on HERZOG Steel solutions for the representative and consistent preparation of sample surfaces.
Our sample preparation machines have been specially developed to meet the requirements of processing steel and iron samples. The clamping unit, face milling cutter, spindle motor and positioning axes are designed to achieve a sufficiently high torque so that even tough sample materials can be processed without any problems.
Automatic milling machine HS-F 1000
- Frame made of special mineral casting
- Significant reduction of vibrations
- Highly accurate and impact-free processing of even hard samples
- Optimum surface quality
- Up to 30 % longer lifetime of the milling tips
- Efficient tool condition monitoring system can be integrated - for ensuring representative analysis and minimizing measurement uncertainties
HERZOG grinding machines
- Broad portfolio for pig iron samples and other materials
- Perfectly coordinated coarse and fine milling technologies and grinding materials
- Highly reproducible removal rate
- Short processing times
- Maximum flatness of the samples
HERZOG offers a wide range of processes for the sample preparation of slags. This means that our systems can be optimally integrated into your operational workflows and adjusted to the specific requirements of your analysis and quality control processes.
Efficient from crushing to analysis
Crushing:
The slag is crushed by specially designed jaw crushers, either in the plant by our HBB-M model or in the laboratory by the HP-CA automatic jaw crusher after pneumatic transport.
Pulverizing:
The slag is then finely ground in a HERZOG laboratory mill. The HP-MA is equipped with a grinding aid dosing system, pre-dosing and efficient cleaning mechanisms. On request, a magnetic separator can also be integrated to separate metallic particles from the sample material.
Pelletizing:
The final preparation for X-ray fluorescence analysis often involves the production a pressed pellet in the fully automatic HP-PA laboratory press. The sample material is pressed into either 40-millimeter or 51.5-millimeter steel rings and then passed on to the analytical instrument.
Fusion:
Alternatively, after fine grinding, a fully automatic borate fusion can be carried out in the HAG-HF with the production of a glass bead. The advantages of this process include the reduction of particle size and matrix effects.
HERZOG also offers fully automated handling of vitrified slag samples using the LIBS method. The samples are transported from the plant to the laboratory using special carrier, automatically unpacked and then transferred to the LIBS instrument for analysis.
HERZOG provides numerous possibilities for the analysis of carbon, sulphur, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen by means of combustion analysis. Our machines produce subsamples for combustion analysis in the form of punched pieces or chips.
Production of punched parts using HUST
- Punching out of double-thickness and sample discs, separation and transport to sample magazine (manual analysis) or CSN Lab (automatic analysis)
- if required before punching: Removal of mill scale by sandblasting or milling
- Fully automatic production of punched parts from cylindrical and conical samples (HS-CF or HCP)
Fully automatic production of chips
- Collecting chips in HERZOG milling machines
- Transportation to magazine or CSN Lab
- HS-F 1000: optional cylindrical cutter unit for producing granular chips - ideal for fully automatic dosing and analysis in the CSN Lab
CNS Lab: fully automated elemental analysis using combustion
The HERZOG CNS Lab has been specially developed for handling punched pieces and chips. It reliably manages the complete sample preparation process from automatic sample reception to transfer of the pre-heated crucible with weighed sample and additives (e.g., tungsten) to the analyzer.
The HERZOG OES Lab is the smart and compact solution for automating your OES analyzer. The OES Lab enables time-efficient analysis of steel samples and can be seamlessly integrated into any of our automated systems. This means you benefit from a highly integrated and extremely efficient all-in-one system.
Your further advantages:
Integrated SparkPoint module for high-resolution monitoring of sample orientation and surface and intelligent determination of spark points
Highly precise positioning of the samples on the spark stand
Alternatively: output of analyzed sample to magazine within OES Lab or return to a central buffer or archive magazine
Sample labeling in the OES Lab or via central printer (needle, laser, inkjet, label printer)
PrepMaster Entry software for efficient and flexible configuration and management of recalibration and control samples (including scheduling of control samples and definition of recalibration strategies)
We have developed a system that fully automates sample preparation and analysis using glow discharge optical spectrometry (GDOES).
GDOES is a powerful method for the rapid analysis of elements on the surface of solids. It can be used to quantitatively determine the mass concentration of elements, e.g. in metal bath samples. In addition, GDOES enables depth profiling of the element concentration in coated metals such as galvanized sheet metal samples.
In our solution, the flat so-called bone samples are transported within the automated system by a specially developed vacuum handling system and inserted into the GDOES instrument.
With the HERZOG Steel Lab container, we offer you an uncompromising automation solution for sample preparation in the steel industry: Our Steel Lab is a self-sufficient laboratory unit and accommodates the complete sample preparation and OES analysis in the smallest possible space. The HERZOG Steel Lab is usually installed in a standard container, which is positioned in the immediate vicinity of the production process in the steelworks. This ensures that the samples taken can be analyzed immediately and quickly.
We always configure the HERZOG Steel Lab for you so that it fits your requirements perfectly.
For maximum flexibility, we offer you, among other things:
Different sample inputs (side, frontal, in robot circle, in milling machine, etc.)
Various OES instruments from leading OEMs
Different sample marking systems (label, inkjet, needle or laser printers)
the integration of an RMS instrument
Different recalibration, monitor and production sample magazines
The control software of the HERZOG Steel Lab has the familiar and complete range of functions of PrepMaster Core and PrepMaster Entry. The system layout allows the operator enough space to move around easily and carry out maintenance work.