Product Design and Procurement
In this section you will see potential areas where Tom could come into a steel plant and work with the steel company as well as any refractory companies to increase product life and lower cost/tonne. As well, a plant in the design phase, could use Tom to design the entire refractory portfolio and/or help negotiate contracts with suppliers and/or put together the installation and/or operating practices to be used.
“Tom Vert is a great expert in refractories materials. I had the privilege to learn and work with him on a strategic project to mitigate the effect of the global refractory crisis. He not only designed the bases of supplier strategy but also contributed effectively to the prioritization and success of short and medium term projects.”
Daniele Fonseca de Lima, Refractory Specialist, ArcelorMittal Tubarao
Services Available for Procurement and/or Design
Full “first fill” for a new mill and/or facility
Design all refractories and installation methods for BOF’s, EAF’s, Ladles, Tundishes, casters, reheat furnaces, etc
Problem solving / troubleshooting
Specific products or areas that need to immediately fix an issue or extend refractory life
Material design
Improve raw material design to extend life and /or decrease cost/tonne for example:
Ratios of sinter to fused magnesia
Purity of magnesia including impurity components
Graphite purity and percentages
Anti-oxidant types, levels and ratios
Swapping or ratio design for white fused alumina, tabular alumina, brown fused alumina, bauxite, andalusite, mullite, etc in alumina silica products
Installation methodologies
Pros/cons of bricks, precast, castable, other monolithics for both initial and repair types
Recommendations on equipment and personnel for installation of all types of refractories
Procurement types
Recommend type of procurement based on the customer and the technology including:
By piece
By tonne
By facility (eg ladle or tundish)
Cost/tonne
Cost/tonne including penalties/bonuses
Including or excluding of equipment
Total Refractory management for the entire plant
Any combination of the above
