SIEMENS - VAI - Blast Furnace Equipment Database

Client

VAI Industries (UK) Limited

VAI is the leading Iron making Technology Contractor in the world, but is more recognizable in the Steel Industry as Davy. VAI-UK expertise in new blast furnace construction, modernisation projects and conventional reline work, since the 1950's, has been built through their involvement in a total of more than 100 projects worldwide. All of the blast furnaces currently operating in Britain were designed, manufactured and installed by VAI-UK.

Brief

To assist in the creation of Blast Furnace tenders a database was required to produce equipment specifications and plant item lists for use in tender documentation. The database would also hold key information from all VAI-UK's previous jobs and have search and report options. The database would provide a common approach to the way in which VAI-UK work and would enable standardisation of all Blast Furnace equipment.

Solution

We asked Karus Systems to design a new user interface and introduce a Windows Explorer look, which is the industry standard and familiar to most users. Karus also included a number of other improvements and features and most importantly restructured the way the data was handled to add stability and make the database robust.

Since the initial development we have continued to improve the database by adding many further features. The most recent of these is a utility to allow remote use of the database from laptop computers. This includes the ability to export and import individual projects by means of e-mail.

Testimonial

"We have worked with Karus Systems for many years and have found them to be very knowledgeable on all IT matters and have always provided deliverables to estimate and programme. Karus have always been able to understand our requests and grasp any problems we have encountered immediately with the minimum of explanation on our behalf."

"We continue to use Karus and thank them for an excellent service."

ENGINEERING DIRECTOR
IRON AND STEEL DIVISION

Contact Karus™ for more information.