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The operation of a metallurgical furnace requires the safe opening and closing of the furnace taphole. In this operation, the molten phase in the furnace is allowed to flow through the tap-hole for transfer to a ladle or another vessel before the tap-hole needs to be safely closed. Until now, non-ferrous tapping operations have largely been performed by an operator. Safe operations around the tap-hole require good process control of the smelting furnace, the proper tap-hole design for the required duty, and high-quality, robust tapping equipment. This paper briefly describes a new robotic tapping and plugging machine for the slag tapping operation on a large copper flash smelting furnace. The operating features and performance aspects are also summarized. Studies that indicate the applicability of this technology in operations other than slag tapping at a flash furnace are described.

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