Continuous Casting

• Addressing industrial and scientific issues related to processing technology in continuous casting of metals, from melting to solidification and cooling.
• Developing a scientifically sound understanding of the influence of casting parameters on solidification, cooling, and contraction and the effects on casting quality, residual stresses, microstructure, and homogeneity.
• Form a communication space of state of art and for new technical developments and solutions.
• Initiating and providing technical support for publicly funded research and development projects and joint projects between universities, research institutes, and industry.
• Exchange of experience between experts from operational practice and industrial development on the one hand and academic and applied research on the other, networking between experienced experts, young professionals, and graduates.

Focus on content:

Specifically, the Expert Committee works on various overarching topics addressed in the working groups and working-group-specific work items. The unifying and long-term oriented issues of the Expert Committee include:

1. the expansion of process knowledge and the continuous improvement of processes from melting to casting and solidification under economic, sustainability, and quality aspects,
2. the strengthening and further development of technical, organizational and behavioral occupational safety to safeguard and further reduce the occurrence of accidents and near misses ("Vision Zero"),
3. getting to know interdisciplinary technical solutions from other areas of energy and process technology and their potential for continuous casting,
4. further development of digitalization in the foundry,
5. exchanging information on practice in the foundry.

Organizational focal points:

The aforementioned content priorities shape the characteristics of the organization of the Expert Committee. These include reciprocal plant visits, the interdisciplinary and practical exchange of experience on technical process issues, technical presentations (by members and invited experts), a "Symposium on Continuous Casting" usually held every five years, the promotion of scientific understanding of the casting process, regular benchmarking to define state of the art, the initiation and technical support of funded R&D projects, and the involvement and promotion of young talent.

Active membership:

The Expert Committee and, following their technical specialization, the working groups see themselves as a meeting of continuous casters; however, they are fundamentally open to persons or institutions with relevant expertise and junior staff in industry and research as well as to students before graduation. The Expert Committee has guest members and permanent members. Guest members participate sporadically or are invited to specific topics according to their professional orientation. Permanent members are actively involved in at least two of the Expert Committee's target areas and/or its working groups and contribute permanently and actively to the Committee's work. They form problem-related ad hoc working groups as needed. They are admitted by-election after a personal presentation. They actively work on the working topics' design and solution and facilitate reciprocal plant or institute visits. All members follow the compliance rules of the DGM.