Early detection of damage: Infrared thermography for steel production

Thermographic inspections using thermal imaging cameras serve for a precise determination of the surface condition of crude steel.

Steel is used wherever high performance is required: in the sector of mechanical engineering and plant construction, in the automotive industry or for the construction of trains, railways and accessories. The demand for steel increases steadily. But in order for the steel processing industry to be able to offer high-quality products, the requirements put on crude steel are extremely high. A reliable and non-destructive quality inspection can be accomplished by using thermal imaging cameras. Infrared thermography renders damages at the crude steel surface visible. The high-quality thermal imaging cameras from Trotec are perfectly suited for these applications.

Monitoring and checking the quality of crude steel is a complex and cost-intensive undertaking. Normally, these inspections are carried out manually and visually. Such a visual inspection – also of finished steel products – means, though, that the options for meticulous, full-scale examinations are limited. After all, the naked eye spots hardly more than larger fractures and cracks at the material surface. Hence, the extent of fault detection depends on the eyesight of the responsible employee and his expertise. Another problem is that these processes are not documented and thus cannot be traced back. In the automobile and railway industry, the calls for quality control procedures that are quicker, more reliable and also safer for the employees are growing ever louder. A definite asset for quality inspections in the steel production in the automobile and railway industry is the application of infrared thermography. For even with steel thermal imaging cameras go into great detail. The Trotec Group's product range includes several thermal imaging cameras taking a closer look at the material.

Quality check: Infrared saves time and money

It takes no more than a slight heating of the crude steel or steel product to roughly 20 degrees to render defects of the steel visible for a thermal imaging camera. In next to no time blemishes at the surface become apparent on the images, for the open surface defects are warmer than the remaining material.

Top class thermography

A very high geometric resolution coupled with a high-performance image sensor and a high thermal sensitivity: This is how the thermal imaging camera IC125LV from Trotec presents itself. The 110,592 independent temperature measuring spots of the high-resolution infrared sensor allow for a geometric resolution of 1.1 mrad in the temperature range between -20 °C to +1,500 °C.

Thanks to their high thermal sensitivity of 0.05 °C even minimal temperature differences and consequently even the most subtle of damages at heated crude steel or extremely hot steel products can be rendered visible. Yet, it is simple to operate the IC125LV. The 3.5 inch colour display permits a convenient, non-contact inspection from all sides. Naturally, it is also possible to take real images or record high-quality infrared videos – for an in-depth, detailed documentation.

Part of the standard equipment are an integrated real image and DuoVision option for the real-time indication of infrared and real image overlays with different display options. Thanks to the miniSD memory card the memory space will not be a problem even in case of more extensive measurements. And like all thermal imaging cameras of the IC series, the IC125LV, too, comes equipped with a high-capacity battery for longer measuring operations.

Further solutions

Automotive industry

Railway

Steel industry

Infrared thermography for steel production

standard equipment

optionally available

not available

Further application examples for measurement technology in the field of thermography

Indicative fever screening during an infectious disease epidemic

In times of infectious disease epidemics, the early detection of infected persons becomes all the more important. Highly infectious viruses, such as norovirus, SARS-CoV-2 (corona) or even H5N1 (bird flu) don’t respect closed doors, international borders or access restrictions. The pathogens spread across the world during a pandemic and the most important measure to help contain them is the early...
Additional information
Observing wild animals

In addition to binoculars, there is mainly one piece of equipment that is indispensable for observing wild animals: a thermal imaging camera. With the help of infrared images, animals can be tracked even in poor visibility conditions and total darkness. With the thermal imaging cameras of the IC series Trotec provides reliable observation equipment. Handy, precise and resistant – and all of this...
Additional information
Checking the health of trees

The safety in parks, on paths and in the forest must be ensured by either the owners or the public administration responsible for the area. Their legal duty of care includes assessing the trees' health condition professionally in order to be able to take the necessary measures. If it turns out that a tree is heavily damaged, it must be removed as quickly as possible to avoid endangering...
Additional information
Equine thermography

The horse is one of the most popular animals in Germany. If a horse suffers a disease or an acute injury, however, costs for medical examinations can be comparatively high. The later the physical impairment is detected, the more time-consuming and cost-intensive the healing process will be. This is why thermography is increasingly used for prophylaxis, acute diagnostics and rehabilitation.
Additional information
Infrared thermography for border security

Monitoring protected areas and borders is a highly responsible task. For here, everything revolves around security. The border guards' task is to track down and stop unauthorized persons. Since intruders mainly rely on poor visibility conditions giving them cover, border guards must be particularly prepared for missions at night and in dense fog. This requires the use of equipment of the latest...
Additional information
Infrared thermography for stock breeding

Thermal imaging cameras have for several years proven their worth in the industrial stock breeding of cattle, pigs, sheep, goats and poultry. They constitute an inexpensive and very early temperature measuring method providing important information about the overall condition of the breeding animal for both the breeder and the vet. Trotec offers a wide range of devices for infrared thermography.
Additional information
Electrical thermography

In what condition are the power lines concealed in a wall or equipment? Is the plastic sheathing brittle already? Are the connections faulty? If a power cable or connection is about to come off or the insulation is bursting open, it doesn’t take much before there is some greater damage. To prevent cable fire and failures of the electrical system, an early detection and elimination of the cause of...
Additional information
Thermography deployed in a water utility

Customers of water suppliers depend on the continuous operation. And the supplier guarantees uninterrupted service. In order to pinpoint technical problems as quickly as possible and to have the maintenance crew work more efficiently, thermal imaging camera are used for checking electronic equipment. The detailed infrared images created by Trotec thermal imaging cameras indicate precisely which...
Additional information
Thermography in wind turbines

Rotor blades serve to convert the wind power into electrical power in a wind turbine. Since the components made of composites are exposed to enormous stress both during manufacturing and operation, they must be in an excellent condition in order to be stable. With the help of infrared thermography, manufacturers and operators of wind turbines can take a look onto and into the rotor blades to make...
Additional information
Checking solar plants

Photovoltaic plants must be in a perfect condition in order to optimally supply private persons and customers benefiting from them. Not only the planning and installation are essential. A check of the solar cells and the entire plant is also indispensable. Hidden defects and malfunctions can be tracked down easily with a thermal imaging camera of the IC series from Trotec. Optimal support for...
Additional information
Location in waters

At sea good visibility is extremely important, especially at night. A fact well known by every sailor who has been out on the open sea after dark before. Amateur mariners and search and rescue teams who want to navigate their fleet unerringly and then need to locate other boats and persons in the water make use of the infrared technology. For Trotec thermal imaging cameras produce detailed and...
Additional information
Search for oil slicks

Once an oil slick reaches the coast, the damage becomes particularly great. Entire animal populations are threatened, and the flora is destroyed. Depending on the size, it may even end in an oil pest. This is why conservationists and task forces work at full capacity in order to spot and eliminate the oil as quickly as possible. Particularly poor visibility and heavy swell require a keen eye. This...
Additional information
Animal documentaries

How do lions hunt in the desert at night? Where has the anaconda hidden? Where do antelopes run when they are startled in the dark? Filmmakers are able to answer these and numerous other questions thanks to the latest technology. Particularly in the field of animal documentaries, the use of thermal imaging cameras becomes increasingly popular. The detailed recordings reveal unknown scenes and...
Additional information

Trotec products for the automotive industry

standard equipment

optionally available

not available

Application examples for the automotive industry

Infrared thermography for steel production

Steel is used wherever high performance is required: in the sector of mechanical engineering and plant construction, in the automotive industry or for the construction of trains, railways and accessories. The demand for steel increases steadily. But in order for the steel processing industry to be able to offer high-quality products, the requirements put on crude steel are extremely high. A...
Additional information
Inspection of engines and car bodies

There are numerous locations on a vehicle where humidity may settle and cause great damage. Particularly the hidden corners and angles of the car body and of the engine present a serious problem. After all, the vehicle owner has no insight into these areas. When inspecting individual components such as the engine, the naked eye won't get very far either. If a component is suspected of being...
Additional information
Environmental simulation climate chamber

In climatic chambers and wind tunnels three factors need to be simulated at the best possible rate: air temperature, wind strength and humidity. For the latter, the automotive industry needs dehumidifiers, which also perform well at dew points below 0°C, as well as high-performance desiccant dehumidifiers.
Additional information
Dehumidifying & air cleaning for coating

There are three parameters to be controlled when coating car components: room temperature, humidity and the dust content in the air. In addition to dehumidifiers and heating devices we also provide sustainable air cleaners with special volumetric flow regulation for this production stage in the automotive industry.
Additional information
Corrosion protection of car body shells

Checking the humidity values with respect to corrosion protection is one of the chief climate conditioning tasks in the automotive industry. In addition to process air conditioning during all stages of the production chain, dehumidification plays a key role in all storage facilities. Particularly well suited for the dehumidification in body shell or component storehouses are the high-performance...
Additional information
Professional odour neutralisation using ozone for car valeting

In professional car valeting the same issue crops up time and time again: how do you sustainably clean the vehicle interior from persistent, clinging odours such as the smell of nicotine or dogs? With its ozone generators Trotec offers an innovative solution – which simply eliminates the odour molecules by use of ozone.
Additional information
Air conditioning industrial processes

Concepts with stationary or mobile dehumidification are frequently used for the process air conditioning in the industry. Often drier air is required locally in machines, plants or individual operating processes – a constant supply regardless of the surrounding conditions. For this purpose, the Trotec Group provides powerful adsorption dryers for industrial customers.
Additional information
Measuring & control vehicle test stands

Different climatic conditions are simulated in various test stands for the purpose of vehicle or component quality assurance. The Trotec Group offers an extensive range of state-of-the-art measuring devices and data loggers to measure these parameters – many of these are either "made in Germany" or "made in Europe".
Additional information
Storage tents/marquees

As opposed to conventional warehouses, marquees and large storage tents are erected quickly and at low cost. The only challenges in the face of buildings – even with insulated marquees – are condensation and humidity control. Stationary high-performance dryers with hose systems for a consistent supply of dry air prevent moisture problems in advance.
Additional information
Drying compressed air

The most frequent causes for a production stop are too much water vapour in the machines and installations, and corrosion inside the pipelines. Therefore, too humid compressed air should be avoided by all means. An effective option is the use of high-performance dehumidifiers. The answer to the question of how dry the compressed air has to be in order to guarantee optimum production conditions and...
Additional information
Cable repair

In the industrial sector, cables are often exposed to the toughest environmental conditions. Consequently, defects occur causing an interruption of the necessary power supply – in many cases for a longer period of time. To avoid serious production losses or to perform maintenance work as quickly as possible, cable breaks and defects are located with the help of infrared thermography. Cables used...
Additional information
Engine noise measurement

Noise regulations become increasingly strict on more and more race tracks. Residents, participants and visitors of the events shall be protected from harmful noise emissions. Thus, the rule for hosts of motor sports events is: Every vehicle should be checked with regard to noise emission in advance. Reliable measurements can be effected using the sound level measuring devices from Trotec. They...
Additional information