Method and system for identifying and tracking coils, slabs, billets and / or tubes within a plant in the raw materials industry, in particular a plant for steel and aluminium production

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a system (1) for identifying and tracking coils (8), slabs (9), billets and / or tubes within a plant in the raw materials industry (2). The invention is based on detecting, determining, storing and comparing characteristic patterns in specified external views and / or specified regions of coils (8), slabs (9), billets and / or tubes within a plant in the raw materials industry (2).

Description

[0001] Method and system for identifying and tracking coils, slabs, billets and / or tubes within a basic materials industry plant, in particular steel and aluminum production

[0002] The invention relates to a method for identifying and tracking coils, slabs, billets, and / or tubes within a plant in the basic materials industry, particularly in steel and aluminum production. The invention further relates to a system for carrying out the method according to the invention.

[0003] Plants in the basic materials industry, particularly steel and aluminum production facilities, comprise several successive, independent sub-plants. These successive sub-plants carry out partial steps of the manufacturing process, with the intermediate products of each step being transported, at least partially, between plant sections and, if necessary, temporarily stored. For this purpose, intermediate storage facilities for multiple coils, slabs, billets, and / or tubes are provided, at least partially, between the successive, independent sub-plants. The intermediate products typically take the form of a coil, slab, billet, or tube.For the entire manufacturing process, identification and tracking of the coils, slabs, billets and / or tubes within the entire basic materials industry plant, especially steel and aluminum production, across all sub-plants is absolutely essential, as the individual steps are coordinated with each other.

[0004] Furthermore, end customers require complete documentation of the production parameters across all production steps of the individual subsystems.

[0005] To ensure this, the coils, slabs, billets and / or pipes are given a unique identifier (ID) and are marked after each production step. This is done either by attached labels,

[0006] Page 1: Stickers or imprints directly onto the intermediate product. Before the next production step, the intermediate products are identified using the attached markings, and the corresponding parameter set is loaded. Alternatively, after processing, the corresponding actual production values ​​are assigned to the intermediate product, and the coils, slabs, billets, and / or pipes are re-marked if necessary.

[0007] The problem is that the applied markings can be lost, become illegible, or the markings themselves can be forgotten. In such a case, the intermediate product cannot be processed as planned, resulting in a devaluation or even scrapping. Furthermore, existing marking systems are complex, expensive, and prone to malfunctions.

[0008] The invention is therefore based on the objective of providing a simple, fast and robust identification and tracking system for coils and / or slabs, billets, and tubes within a plant of the basic materials industry, in particular steel and aluminum production.

[0009] The problem is solved according to the invention by the method of claim 1 and a system for carrying out the method according to the invention. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.

[0010] The invention relates to a method for identifying and tracking coils, slabs, billets and / or tubes within a plant of the basic materials industry, in particular steel and aluminium production.

[0011] The basic materials industry plant consists of several successive, independent sub-plants, and at least partially intermediate storage facilities for several coils, slabs, billets and / or tubes are provided between the successive, independent sub-plants, wherein the coils and / or slabs are produced by a first sub-plant and further processed by the subsequent sub-plants, for example into billets or tubes.

[0012] Page 2 The method according to the invention comprises the following steps:

[0013] Capturing a predefined external view and / or area of ​​the manufactured coils and / or slabs after production in the first sub-plant;

[0014] Identifying a characteristic pattern in the captured exterior view and / or in the captured predefined area;

[0015] Storing the identified characteristic pattern in a central facility, whereby each sub-plant of the basic materials industry plant can access the central facility;

[0016] Capturing the specified exterior view and / or the specified area in the entrance area of ​​the subsequent sub-systems;

[0017] Determining the characteristic pattern in the recorded exterior view and / or in the recorded specified area in the entrance area of ​​the subsequent sub-systems;

[0018] Comparison of the determined characteristic pattern in the entrance area of ​​the subsequent sub-plants with the characteristic patterns stored in the central facility for the identification and tracking of individual coils, slabs, billets and / or pipes;

[0019] Capturing the specified external view and / or the specified area in the starting area of ​​the subsequent sub-systems;

[0020] Determining the characteristic pattern in the captured external view and / or in the captured specified area in the starting area of ​​the subsequent sub-systems;

[0021] Comparison of the characteristic pattern in the captured exterior view and / or in the captured predefined area in the exit area with the characteristic pattern in the captured exterior view and / or in the captured predefined area in the entrance area; and

[0022] Page 3 Storing the characteristic pattern in the captured exterior view and / or in the captured predefined area in the exit area together with the characteristic pattern in the captured exterior view and / or in the captured predefined area in the entrance area in the central facility, if the characteristic patterns in the captured exterior view and / or in the captured predefined area in the exit area and entrance area differ from each other.

[0023] In a first step of the method according to the invention, a predetermined external view and / or a predetermined area of ​​the coils and / or slabs produced in the first sub-plant is captured. The predetermined external view or the predetermined area are fixed and are, for example, predefined.

[0024] Subsequently, a characteristic pattern is identified in the captured external view and / or in the captured predefined area. This could be, for example, a characteristic external shape, the winding of a coil, or a characteristic surface structure in the predefined area.

[0025] The identified characteristic pattern is stored in a central facility, whereby each sub-plant of the basic materials industry plant can access the central facility.

[0026] In the following sub-systems, the specified exterior view and / or the specified area can be recorded in the entrance area. The characteristic pattern can then be determined within this recorded exterior view and / or the recorded specified area.

[0027] By comparing the characteristic patterns in the input area of ​​the subsequent sub-plants with those stored in the central unit, a specific coil, slab, billet, or pipe can be identified. This enables unambiguous identification.

[0028] Page 4 Identification and tracking of coils, slabs, billets and / or tubes within the entire basic materials industry plant.

[0029] In the output area of ​​the subsequent sub-systems, the specified external view and / or the specified area is captured again. A characteristic pattern is then determined in the external view captured in the output area of ​​the subsequent sub-system and / or in the specified area captured in the output area.

[0030] The characteristic pattern in the captured exterior view and / or in the captured predefined area in the exit area is compared with the characteristic pattern in the captured exterior view and / or in the captured predefined area in the entrance area, and the characteristic pattern in the captured exterior view and / or in the captured predefined area in the exit area is stored together with the characteristic pattern in the captured exterior view and / or in the captured predefined area in the entrance area in the central facility if the characteristic patterns in the captured exterior view and / or in the captured predefined area in the exit area and entrance area differ from each other.This allows the coils, slabs, billets and / or pipes to be identified and tracked throughout the entire basic materials industry plant, even if the characteristic pattern in the specified external view and / or area changes during processing in a sub-plant.

[0031] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the method further comprises the step of storing product and production data from the sub-plants together with the determined characteristic pattern in the central unit. This makes all product and production data stored up to that point in the central unit available to all sub-plants of the basic materials industry plant. This allows, for example, the optimization of production in a subsequent sub-plant by taking into account the product and production data from the preceding sub-plants.

[0032] On page 5, the data, for example target and actual values ​​of the subsystems, can be accumulated together.

[0033] According to a variant of the invention, the data from the sub-systems include: control data from the sub-systems, sensor data from the sub-systems, recorded qualities or defects of the coils and / or slabs, setting values ​​from the sub-systems, measured values.

[0034] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the method comprises the step of storing requirements for the production and / or further processing of the coils, slabs, billets, and / or tubes, together with the determined characteristic pattern, in the central unit. Thus, the requirements for the production and / or further processing of the coils, slabs, billets, and / or tubes are available to all sub-systems. These requirements can then be evaluated in subsequent sub-systems, particularly taking into account the product and production data from previous sub-systems. For example, problems that occurred and affected the coil, slab, billet, and / or tube in a previous sub-system can be rectified or eliminated by targeted rework in a subsequent system section.

[0035] In a convenient embodiment, the method comprises assigning a unique identifier to the respective coils, slabs, billets, and / or pipes, wherein the unique identifier, together with the respective determined characteristic pattern, is stored in the central unit. The unique identifier can be physically assigned to the coil, slab, billet, and / or pipe, as is currently the only identification method used in the prior art. This allows the coil, slab, billet, and / or pipe to be identified even in a sub-plant that is not specifically designed to carry out the method according to the invention.

[0036] Page 6 According to a convenient embodiment of the invention, the determination of the characteristic patterns is based on image recognition methods. For this purpose, known algorithms for fingerprint or facial recognition can be used, for example.

[0037] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the production and further processing of the coils, slabs, billets, and / or tubes is monitored and controlled by a higher-level production system. This higher-level production system retrieves data on the respective coils, slabs, billets, and / or tubes from the central unit and, based on this data, controls the sub-systems to ensure that the requirements for the coil, slab, billet, and / or tube are met. The higher-level production system and the central unit can also be combined into a single unit.

[0038] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the method comprises the import of externally produced and / or delivered coils and / or slabs, comprising the steps of:

[0039] Capturing a predefined external view and / or area of ​​the externally produced and / or delivered coils and / or slabs;

[0040] Identifying a characteristic pattern in the captured exterior view and / or in the captured predefined area;

[0041] Storing the identified characteristic pattern in the central facility together with data provided by the upstream producer or supplier on the externally produced and / or delivered coils and / or slabs.

[0042] This import step then replaces the capture of a predefined exterior view and / or a predefined area, the determination of a characteristic pattern in the captured exterior view and / or in the captured predefined area.

[0043] Page 7: Area and storage of the determined characteristic pattern in the central facility from the first sub-plant. The first sub-plant is replaced by the import of the corresponding data for externally produced coils and / or slabs.

[0044] According to a convenient variant of the invention, the specified external view and / or the specified area is captured by means of cameras permanently installed in the entrance area and / or exit area of ​​the sub-systems.

[0045] According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the method comprises capturing the predetermined external view and / or the predetermined area using a mobile device, particularly in intermediate storage areas. For this purpose, for example, employees are equipped with mobile scanning devices so that the coils, slabs, billets and / or pipes can be identified and tracked at any time and at any location within the basic materials industry plant.

[0046] In one embodiment of the invention, the specified external view is a side view of a coil. The characteristic pattern in this embodiment is, for example, the winding of the coil, in particular the arrangement of the different layers of the coil in the side view. This is comparable to the annual rings of a tree, which are individually shaped.

[0047] According to a variant of the invention, the characteristic patterns include one or more of the following features: coil inner diameter, coil outer diameter, coil type, winding accuracy, winding offset, position and / or number of windings, degree of oxidation and / or contamination, strip length, or the like.

[0048] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the specified area is a frontal view and / or a microscopic or macroscopic view of the coil, slab, billet and / or tube. The microscopic and / or macroscopic views capture the surface structure of the coil.

[0049] Page 8 of the slab, the stick and / or the pipe, which are unique like a fingerprint and therefore suitable for identification.

[0050] In one embodiment of the invention, the specified area is located in a region protected from external influences. A region protected from external influences is, for example, the inner free space of a coil, where a rotary axis / winding mandrel is arranged during winding and unwinding.

[0051] According to one suitable variant, the characteristic patterns include one or more of the following properties: quality of the trimming shear blades, degree of oxidation and / or contamination, slab length, strip thickness, strip width, macroscopic surface pattern, or the like.

[0052] The method can further include illuminating the specified external view and / or the specified area of ​​the coils, slabs, billets, and / or pipes. This improves image quality and facilitates the subsequent identification of characteristic patterns.

[0053] It is advantageous to use state-of-the-art recording methods for image acquisition.

[0054] The invention further relates to a system for identifying and tracking coils, slabs, billets and / or tubes within a plant of the basic materials industry, in particular steel and aluminium production.

[0055] The basic materials industry plant consists of several successive, independent sub-plants, and at least partially intermediate storage facilities for several coils, slabs, billets and / or tubes are provided between the successive, independent sub-plants, wherein the coils and / or slabs are produced by a first sub-plant and further processed by the subsequent sub-plants, for example into billets or tubes.

[0056] The system comprises one or more image capture devices for capturing a predefined exterior view and / or a predefined area of ​​the

[0057] Page 9 of the manufactured coils and / or slabs after production in the first sub-plant. Furthermore, the system comprises one or more data processing units for determining a characteristic pattern in the captured external view and / or in the captured predefined area. A central unit of the system serves to store the determined characteristic patterns, and each sub-plant of the basic materials industry plant can access this central unit.

[0058] The one or more data processing facilities or one or more additional data processing facilities are designed to compare the determined characteristic pattern in the input area of ​​the subsequent sub-plants with the characteristic patterns stored in the central facility for the identification and tracking of individual coils and / or slabs, and / or to compare the characteristic pattern in the captured external view and / or in the captured predetermined area in the output area with the characteristic pattern in the captured external view and / or in the captured predetermined area in the input area.

[0059] The system is designed to carry out the method according to the invention.

[0060] The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to exemplary embodiments shown in the figures. The figures show:

[0061] Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a system according to the invention for identifying and tracking coils, slabs, billets and / or tubes within a basic materials industry plant;

[0062] Fig. 2 shows a detailed view of the first sub-plant from Fig. 1; and

[0063] Fig. 3 shows a detailed view of the first sub-plant from Fig. 1.

[0064] Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a system 1 according to the invention for identifying and tracking coils 8, slabs 9, billets and / or tubes within a plant of the basic materials industry 2, in particular the steel industry.

[0065] Page 10 and aluminum production. The basic materials industry plant 2 consists of several successive, independent sub-plants 3, 4, 5. According to the highly simplified representation in Fig. 1, the basic materials industry plant 2 comprises a first sub-plant 3, a second sub-plant 4 and a third sub-plant 5.

[0066] Intermediate storage areas 6, 7 for several coils 8, slabs 9, billets and / or tubes are provided between the successive, independent sub-plants 3, 4, 5. According to the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, a first intermediate storage area 6 is provided between the first sub-plant 3 and the second sub-plant 4, and a second intermediate storage area 7 is provided between the second sub-plant 4 and the third sub-plant 5.

[0067] In the first sub-plant 3, coils 8 and / or slabs 9 are produced, which are further processed into billets or tubes, for example, by the subsequent second and third sub-plants 4, 5.

[0068] To ensure product quality, it is advantageous if the subsequent sub-plant 4, 5 can access the product and / or production information from the preceding sub-plants 3, 4. This requires the identification and tracking of coils 8, slabs 9, billets, and / or tubes within a basic materials industry plant 2. For this purpose, the inventive method for identifying and tracking coils 8, slabs 9, billets, and / or tubes within a basic materials industry plant 2 is implemented in the plant of the basic materials industry 2 shown in Fig. 1.

[0069] Fig. 2 shows a detailed view of the first sub-plant 3 from Fig. 1. In this first sub-plant 3, coils 8 and / or slabs 9 are produced. After the production of the coils 8 and / or slabs 9 in the first sub-plant 3, a predetermined external view and / or a predetermined area of ​​the produced coils 8 and / or slabs 9 is captured according to the invention. For this purpose,

[0070] Page 11, for example, shows that an image acquisition unit 10, in particular a camera, is provided in the exit area of ​​the first sub-system.

[0071] The specified external view is, for example, a side view of a coil, and the specified area is, for example, a frontal view and / or a microscopic or macroscopic view of the coil 8, the slab 9, the billet, and / or the tube. Advantageously, the specified area lies within a region of the coil 8, the slab 9, the billet, and / or the tube that is protected from external influences.

[0072] Subsequently, a characteristic pattern is determined within the captured external view and / or within the captured predefined area. The determination of the characteristic pattern is based, for example, on image recognition methods. The characteristic pattern can include one or more of the following properties: coil inner diameter, coil outer diameter, coil type, winding accuracy, winding offset, position and / or number of windings, degree of oxidation and / or contamination, strip length, quality of the trimming shear blades, degree of oxidation and / or contamination, slab length, strip thickness, strip width, macroscopic surface pattern, or the like.

[0073] The identified characteristic patterns are stored in a central facility 11, and each sub-plant 3, 4, 5 of the basic materials industry plant 2 can access the central facility 11. In particular, the sub-plants 3, 4, 5 comprise one or more data processing units (not shown) for determining the characteristic pattern in the captured external view and / or in the captured predefined area.

[0074] After production in the first sub-plant 3, the coils 8 and / or slabs 9 can be stored in the first intermediate storage facility 6 before being transferred to the second sub-plant 4 in an unspecified order.

[0075] Fig. 3 shows a detailed view of the second sub-plant 4 from Fig. 2. In the entrance area of ​​the second plant section 4, the specified exterior view is shown.

[0076] Page 12 and / or the specified area is recorded. In this recorded external view and / or in this recorded specified area of ​​the entrance area of ​​the second sub-plant 4, the characteristic pattern is again determined, according to the procedure from the first plant section 3. All plant sections 3, 4, 5 of the basic materials industry plant 2 use the same algorithm to determine the characteristic pattern and take into account the same specified external view and / or the same specified area.

[0077] The characteristic pattern determined in the entrance area of ​​the second sub-plant 4 is then compared with the characteristic patterns stored in the central facility 11 for the identification and tracking of individual coils 8, slabs 9, billets and / or tubes.

[0078] The one or more data processing units of sub-plants 3, 4, 5 or one or more additional data processing units of the basic materials industry plant 2 and / or sub-plants 3, 4, 5 are designed to compare the determined characteristic pattern in the input area of ​​the subsequent sub-plants 4, 5 with the characteristic patterns stored in the central unit 11 for the identification and tracking of individual coils 8 and / or slabs 9, and / or to compare the characteristic pattern in the recorded external view and / or in the recorded predetermined area in the output area with the characteristic pattern in the recorded external view and / or in the recorded predetermined area in the input area.

[0079] In particular, the coils 8 and / or slabs 9 are processed into billets or tubes in the following sub-plants 4, 5.

[0080] In the starting area of ​​the second sub-system 4, the specified external view and / or the specified area is again recorded, and the characteristic pattern is determined again in this recorded external view and / or the recorded specified area.

[0081] Page 13 The following is a comparison of the characteristic pattern in the recorded exterior view and / or in the recorded predefined area in the exit area with the characteristic pattern in the recorded exterior view and / or in the recorded predefined area in the entrance area.

[0082] If the characteristic patterns in the captured external view and / or in the captured predefined area in the exit and entry areas differ, the characteristic pattern in the captured external view and / or in the captured predefined area in the exit area is stored together with the characteristic pattern in the captured external view and / or in the captured predefined area in the entry area in the central unit 11. Since the characteristic patterns in the entry and exit areas differ, the processing in the second sub-plant 5 has an influence on the characteristic pattern. In order to identify and track the coils 8, slabs 9, billets, and / or tubes throughout the entire basic materials industry plant 2, all determined characteristic patterns for a coil, slab, billet, and / or tube are stored in the central unit 11.

[0083] The third sub-plant 5 is essentially identical in structure to the second sub-plant 4, and therefore is not shown separately. A second intermediate storage facility 7 is provided between the second sub-plant 4 and the third sub-plant 5.

[0084] In the intermediate storage facilities 6, 7, the specified external view and / or the specified area can be captured using a mobile device, while in the sub-facilities 3, 4, 5, for example, permanently installed cameras are used.

[0085] In central facility 11, product and production data from sub-systems 3, 4, and 5 can also be stored together with the identified characteristic patterns. The data from sub-systems 3, 4, and 5 include

[0086] Page 14, for example: control data from the sub-systems, sensor data from the sub-systems, recorded qualities or defects of the coils and / or slabs, set values ​​from the sub-systems, measured values.

[0087] Furthermore, requirements for the production and / or further processing of the coils 8, slabs 9, billets and / or tubes, together with the determined characteristic pattern, can be stored in the central facility 11.

[0088] The production and further processing of the coils 8, slabs 9, billets and / or tubes can be monitored and controlled by a higher-level production system (not shown), whereby the higher-level production system retrieves the data on the respective coils 8, slabs 9, billets and / or tubes from the central facility 11 and, based on this data, controls the sub-systems 3, 4, 5 in order to ensure the requirements for the coil 8, the slab 9, the billet and / or the tube are met.

[0089] Instead of producing coils 8 and / or slabs 9 in the first sub-plant 3, externally produced and / or delivered coils 8 and / or slabs 9 can also be imported. The following steps are carried out for this purpose:

[0090] Capturing a predefined external view and / or a predefined area of ​​the externally produced and / or delivered coils 8 and / or slabs 9;

[0091] Identifying a characteristic pattern in the captured exterior view and / or in the captured predefined area;

[0092] Storing the determined characteristic pattern in the central facility 11 together with data provided by the upstream producer or supplier on the externally produced and / or delivered coils 8 and / or slabs 9.

[0093] Page 15 Reference numeral list

[0094] 1 system

[0095] 2. Basic materials industry plant 3. First sub-plant

[0096] 4 second sub-plant

[0097] 5 third sub-plant

[0098] 6 first interim storage

[0099] 7 second intermediate storage 8 coil

[0100] 9 slabs

[0101] 10 Camera

[0102] 11 central facility

[0103] Page 16

Claims

Patent claims 1. A method for identifying and tracking coils (8), slabs (9), billets and / or tubes within a basic materials industry plant (2), in particular for steel and aluminum production; wherein the basic materials industry plant (2) consists of several successive, independent sub-plants (3, 4, 5) and intermediate storage facilities (6, 7) for several coils (8), slabs (9), billets and / or tubes are provided at least partially between the successive, independent sub-plants (3, 4, 5), wherein the coils (8) and / or slabs (9) are produced by a first sub-plant (3) and further processed by the subsequent sub-plants (4, 5); wherein the method comprises the following steps: Capturing a specified external view and / or a specified area of ​​the manufactured coils (8) and / or slabs (9) after production in the first sub-plant (3); Identifying a characteristic pattern in the captured exterior view and / or in the captured predefined area; Storing the determined characteristic pattern in a central facility (11), wherein each sub-facility (3, 4, 5) of the basic materials industry plant (2) can access the central facility (11); Capturing the specified exterior view and / or the specified area in the entrance area of ​​the following sub-systems (4, 5); Determining the characteristic pattern in the recorded exterior view and / or in the recorded specified area in the entrance area of ​​the subsequent sub-systems (4, 5); Page 17 Comparison of the determined characteristic pattern in the entrance area of ​​the subsequent sub-plants (4, 5) with the characteristic patterns stored in the central facility (11) for the identification and tracking of individual coils (8), slabs (9), billets and / or tubes; Capturing the specified external view and / or the specified area in the starting area of ​​the subsequent sub-systems (4, 5); Determining the characteristic pattern in the captured external view and / or in the captured specified area in the starting area of ​​the subsequent sub-systems (4, 5); Comparison of the characteristic pattern in the captured exterior view and / or in the captured predefined area in the exit area with the characteristic pattern in the captured exterior view and / or in the captured predefined area in the entrance area; and Storing the characteristic pattern in the captured exterior view and / or in the captured predefined area in the exit area together with the characteristic pattern in the captured exterior view and / or in the captured predefined area in the entrance area in the central facility (11), if the characteristic patterns in the captured exterior view and / or in the captured predefined area in the exit area and entrance area differ from each other.

2. Method according to claim 1, comprising the step of storing product and production data from the sub-systems (3, 4, 5) together with the determined characteristic pattern in the central unit (11). Page 18 3. Method according to claim 2, wherein the data from the sub-systems (3, 4, 5) comprise: control data from the sub-systems, sensor data from the sub-systems, detected qualities or defects of the coils (8) and / or slabs (9), setting values ​​from the sub-systems (3, 4, 5), measured values.

4. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising the step of storing requirements for the manufacture and / or further processing of the coils (8), slabs (9), billets and / or tubes together with the determined characteristic pattern in the central device (11).

5. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising assigning a unique identification to the respective coils (8), slabs (9), billets and / or tubes, wherein the unique identification together with the respective determined characteristic Patterns are stored in the central facility (11).

6. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the determination of the characteristic patterns is based on image recognition methods.

7. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the production and further processing of the coils (8), slabs (9), billets and / or tubes is monitored and controlled by a higher-level production system, wherein the higher-level production system retrieves the data on the respective coils (8), slabs (9), billets and / or tubes from the central unit (11) and, on the basis of this data, controls the sub-systems Page 19 (3, 4, 5) controls to ensure the requirements for the coil (8), the slab (9), the billet and / or the tube.

8. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, comprising the importation of externally produced and / or delivered coils (8) and / or slabs (9) comprising the steps: Capturing a predefined external view and / or area of ​​the externally produced and / or delivered coils (8) and / or slabs (9); Identifying a characteristic pattern in the captured exterior view and / or in the captured predefined area; Storing the identified characteristic pattern in the central facility (11) together with data provided by the upstream producer or supplier on the externally produced and / or delivered coils (8) and / or slabs (9).

9. Method according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the recording of the specified external view and / or the specified area is carried out by means of cameras (10) permanently installed in the entrance area and / or exit area of ​​the sub-systems (3, 4, 5).

10. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, comprising capturing the predetermined external view and / or the predetermined area by means of a mobile device, in particular in the intermediate storage areas (6, 7). Page 20 11. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the specified external view is a side view of a coil (8).

12. Method according to claim 11, wherein the characteristic patterns comprise one or more of the following features: coil inner diameter, coil outer diameter, coil type, winding accuracy, winding offset, position and / or number of windings, degree of oxidation and / or contamination, strip length, or the like.

13. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the specified area is a frontal view and / or a microscopic or macroscopic view of the coil (8), slab (9), billet and / or tube.

14. Method according to claim 13, wherein the specified area is in an area protected from external influences.

15. Method according to claim 13 or claim 14, wherein the characteristic patterns comprise one or more of the following properties: quality of the trimming shear blades, degree of oxidation and / or contamination, slab length, strip thickness, strip width, macroscopic surface pattern, or the like.

16. System (1) for identifying and tracking coils (8), slabs (9), billets and / or tubes within a basic materials industry plant (2), in particular steel and aluminium production; Page 21 wherein the basic materials industry plant (2) consists of several successive, independent sub-plants (3, 4, 5) and intermediate storage facilities (6, 7) for several coils (8), slabs (9), billets and / or tubes are provided at least partially between the successive, independent sub-plants (3, 4, 5), wherein the coils (8) and / or slabs (9) are produced by a first sub-plant (3) and further processed by the subsequent sub-plants (4, 5); wherein the system (1) comprises: one or more image acquisition devices (10) for capturing a predetermined external view and / or a predetermined area of ​​the produced coils (8) and / or slabs (9) after production in the first sub-plant (3); one or more data processing devices for determining a characteristic pattern in the captured external view and / or in the captured predetermined area;a central facility (11) for storing determined characteristic patterns, wherein each sub-plant (3, 4, 5) of the basic materials industry plant (2) can access the central facility (11); wherein one or more data processing facilities or one or more additional data processing facilities are configured to compare the determined characteristic pattern in the input area of ​​the subsequent sub-plants (4, 5) with the characteristic patterns stored in the central facility (11) for the identification and tracking of individual coils (8) and / or slabs (9), and / or for comparing the characteristic pattern in the captured external view and / or in the captured predetermined area in the output area with the characteristic pattern in the captured Page 22 Exterior view and / or in the captured predetermined area in the entrance area; wherein the system (1) is designed to carry out the method according to one of claims 1 to 15. Page 23

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