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EP 2 536 856 A1

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(43) Date of publication: 26.12.2012 Bulletin 2012/52 (21) Application number: 11705671.3 (22) Date of filing: 15.02.2011

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  C21B 7/20(2006.01) F27D 99/00(2010.01) F27D 3/10(2006.01) F27B 1/20(2006.01) (86) International application number: PCT/GB2011/050287 (87) International publication number: WO 2011/098841 (18.08.2011 Gazette 2011/33)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR (30) Priority: 15.02.2010 GB 201002432 (71) Applicant: Siemens VAI Metals Technologies Ltd. Sheffield, Yorkshire S9 1XU (GB)	(72) Inventors: CRAIG, Ian Mervyn Stockton-on-Tees TS18 5JB (GB) FLETCHER, Jeremy Stockton-on-Tees Tyne and Wear TS17 0RT (GB) KAPS, Gareth Darlington Durham DL1 4LA (GB) MILLINGTON, Neil Stockton on Tees Tyne and Wear TS20 1LW (GB) (74) Representative: Brocklehurst, Adam Jeffrey  Siemens AG Postfach 22 16 34 80506 München 80506 München (DE)