The application of automatic online real-time sampling and analysis and closed loop control of process solutions for electro-plating lines

Within the steel industry, there is a growing demand to `close-the loop´ in the process control of electroplating lines. Modern plating lines are capable of producing both tinplated and chromium plated steel strip and operate at very high speeds with extremely close tolerances. The paper gives an outline of the work that has already been carried out in this field and describes an exercise that is being progressed jointly by British Steel tinplate and Hilger Analytical Ltd. This current work is being carried out at the former´s Trostre Works to establish the feasibility and development of a novel method that uses modern techniques for achieving automatic on-line real-time sampling, analysis and control of the electroplating solutions