Technology and innovation

• With own technology, Asvotec innovates and manufactures special valves for Usiminas.

Equipment will go to the new coke plant which should be inaugurated in 2015.

The development and production of special valves for coke plants brings Asvotec in a highlighted position in the Brazilian market, in 2014, as it is the first company in its branch in the country, with national capital, to utilize own technology for the manufacturing of this type of equipment.

In a total of ten goggle valves with linear absolute blockage DN-800 mm, four goggle valves with linear absolute blockage DN-700 mm and another ten knife gate valves DN-800mm.

The Sales Supervisor - Valves' Division, Mr. Ronaldo Vinicius Garcia, explains this development as the greater technological contribution of Asvotec for the customer: "In this project, we sold solutions with innovative technology, competitive costs, quality assurance and durability", he commented. The actuators utilized in the valves were delivered by the German company Auma, partner in this development.

With an investment around of 700 million Brazilian Real in the plant which is considered the higher investment of last 15 years, the coke plant of Usiminas will start operating in 2015, but its installations are already ongoing. The coke plant is a conjunction of great structures which may have more than two hundred furnaces, where the coke - the main raw material utilized in the steel production - is prepared.

According to the Ronaldo's plans, the sales of these special valves will expand into another Brazilian steel makers due to the applied technology, productivity gain and reliability of a good operation.

The Engineering Supervisor for Designs/Drawings, Mr. Lídio Antonio de Oliveira explains that the development of valves included Sales and Engineering Depts. and it was made in two steps: January, from 02nd to 30th it was performed the knife gate valve and January, from 02nd to February 03rd the goggle valves with linear and lunar absolute blockage.

In his opinion, the results exceed all expectations: "It was a perfect development, an excellent project and none non-conformances", he commented.
Mr. Lídio explains that this type of equipment is usually operated manually and Asvotec changed this concept. According to him, the special valves newly developed have an electro-mechanical system which can be handled at distance by the operator, offering him more safety and better life quality at work. Another important gain was the time spent in the operation, before it lasted 12 hours through the system of manual racket and it was reduced, without any comparison, to five minutes with the valve.

According to the opinion of Mr. Lídio, the project contributed hugely for the team's growth, as all professionals gained, as well as the customer and Asvotec which may make available more one technology for the Brazilian market in the future.

Mr. Wellington Luciano Transfereti of the Process Engineering who, besides to define the manufacturing processes, worked with the acquisition of materials, both raw materials (plates) and fastening items (screws) evaluates that the sum of efforts and the team's union were an experience to be reproduced in next projects. "It was a job well done, where all areas demonstrated engagement and worked joined with the same results, which were excellent", emphasized.

And they were really excellent. According to the Production Supervisor, Mr. Geraldo Magela Pinto, the equipment's manufacturing was carried out in ninety days, with gains of working hour reductions and guarantee of delivery terms.

Confident, Mr. Magela remembers that, historically, valves were always the flagship businesses and he also highlighted the Asvotec's knowledge and technology which are allowing increment the product. "Manufacturing of valves is pleasant and it has its advantages because it covers all the plant, starting from the cutting area until the mechanical assembly".

If it depends on the engagement of the production teams, the Sales Dept. will have records of commercialization, because the plant has working capacity. The valves have their higher application in steel makers, cement plants and also in Petrobras plants.

VALVES' COMMISSION

The Valves' Commission was created in April 2011 and it joins professionals of Sales; Engineering of Projects, Processes and Manufacturing; Quality and Production. The challenges are the continuous search for improvement of different types of valves, which includes the steps of engineering, project, manufacturing and tests

The works have as basis the old and new supplying. Among the results already obtained, one highlights the creation of new procedures and materials' adequacy, process improvement and compliance with delivery terms with customers as well as the parts' standardization and cost reduction.

The Sales Supervisor - Valves' Division, Mr. Ronaldo Vinicius Garcia confirmed that the actions' results contributed for the increase of sales and branches' growth. He points out the expansion of Asvotec in this market and also the sum of efforts for keeping this growth in short term, aiming to continue to consolidate as reference company in the manufacturing of valves with quality, durability and competitive prices.