Automated Slag Disposal – Reliable Even in Extreme Conditions

How do you automate a process that previously required manual intervention several times a week – especially in an environment with dust, moisture, and constantly changing weather conditions?

That was exactly the challenge faced by steel mill Georgsmarienhütte GmbH: the fill level of a slag basin had to be checked regularly to ensure timely emptying by an excavator. Until then, this meant manual effort – and potential downtime.

An initial attempt using ultrasonic sensors failed due to the harsh environmental conditions. The solution came from a technology already proven on site: industrial radar sensors from Symeo.

Today, the fill level is monitored reliably and maintenance-free in real time using radar – independent of rain, fog, or dust. The system automatically detects when the basin is full and triggers the next process step.

The result:

- Reduced manual intervention
- Increased process reliability
- Stable operation without failures

What started as a test quickly turned into a continuous operation – marking another step toward full automation.

Watch the application in action!