Traceability in the rolling mill: process reliability right from the start News | 26.05.2026

A visit to a Vietnamese steelworks illustrates the importance of reliable data flows when processing hot semi-finished steel products. Thanks to automated marking immediately after casting, the quality of the material remains fully traceable right through to the finished end product.

Heat-resistant labelling immediately after casting
Extreme temperatures prevail in integrated steelworks. For automated material tracking to work at all, the labelling must be able to withstand the heat. At our customer’s site in Vietnam, every beam billet is fitted with a high-temperature-resistant tag immediately after casting. This means the material is already clearly identifiable on its way to the warehouse.

Automatic recording at every stage of production
The entire material flow is digitally documented. The system automatically records and logs product movements at every stage:

• in the foundry immediately after production;
• during temporary storage on the factory premises;
• during transport and preparation for further processing.

Error-free matching at the hot rolling mill
In the hot rolling mill, error-free matching takes place as the blanks are rolled into high-quality beams for the construction industry. When loaded into the rolling mill, each blank is fully automatically scanned. This matching process links the finished products directly to the specific beam blank and the exact casting batch.

Essential quality verification
Particularly in the construction industry, verification of precise material quality is now absolutely essential. Incorrect allocations or missing documents in the production process lead to downtime or complaints. With automated identification, the plant documents the entire production process seamlessly. This ensures error-free processes within the plant and gives the company a clear competitive advantage.