HPH® Bell-type Annealing Furnaces for Stainless Steel Strip

Throughout the world, more than 8,500 LOI annealing bases have been installed. About 5,000 of these bases operate with HNx controlled atmospheres (5 % H2, 95 % N2). More than 3,500 bases use HPH® annealing technology with pure hydrogen annealing atmosphere. LOI is therefor also market leader in the field of high performance Bell-type Annealing Furnaces.

LOI has installed more than 300 bell-type-annealing plants in more than 30 countries and these plants are producing approx. 45 million tons of wide, medium-width and narrow strip each year.

In developing HPH® technology, LOI focused on the zero-error philosophy at the same time as building on existing furnace designs. As a result, even older Bell-type Annealing plants can be converted to HPH® operation.

LOI HPH® technology ensures atmosphere dew points below -60 °C. The extremely pure hydrogen annealing atmosphere and precise temperature control bring considerable quality benefits with a wide variety of steel grades.