Digital Support for Detailed Planning in Hot-Dip Galvanizing Plants
14.10.2026 | Salzgitter Flachstahl GmbH
Within the Salzgitter Group, there are numerous examples of Younited, the successful collaboration within the Group. Automatic preliminary planning for hot-dip galvanizing plants—which will be able to provide even more comprehensive planning proposals in the future—is another example of this.
Detailed planning of hot-dip galvanizing plants is a challenging task. Due to a wide range of possibilities, complex constraints, and conflicting objectives, the planning process can quickly become confusing. Mathematical optimization helps develop reliable proposed solutions.
In day-to-day planning, a particularly large number of requirements come into play: available inventory, technical plant specifications, operational rules, and varying objectives. Among other things, galvanizing schedules must be structured appropriately from a technical standpoint, take urgent parts into account, and at the same time enable plant operations that are as consistent and resource-efficient as possible—such as efficient furnace operation.
Planners perform demanding work every day. For this reason, a new automated preliminary planning system was developed in collaboration with the Group affiliate Salzgitter Digital Solutions GmbH, which now provides them with even stronger digital support.
Technical Advancements
In addition to calculating an optimized planning sequence for the specified parts, the selection of parts from inventory is now also part of the optimization process.
This shifts a larger portion of the preliminary planning work into the digital support process: The optimization can generate recommendations on which parts to select for a galvanizing program and in what order they best meet the defined specifications.
The close integration with the moreRules rule system—in which important operational rules are maintained and used automatically on a high-frequency basis across the entire group—creates significant added value: Technically maintained rules are directly incorporated into the optimization process and thus influence the planning suggestions.
Support for Employees
Automated preliminary planning complements employees’ experience as digital assistants. Colleagues configure parameters, review results, and retain technical control. This makes planning more structured, scalable, and consistent. At the same time, the level of automation in a complex planning process increases.
The project demonstrates the potential that lies in the collaboration between process specialists, planning managers, and IT experts. Through close cooperation between Salzgitter Flachstahl GmbH and Salzgitter Digital Solutions GmbH, digital solutions are created that specifically support and further develop production processes.