i-GVARD stands for:

• intelligent / innovative
• Genuine
• Vesuvius
• Assessment / Analytics
• Refractories
• Decision

• No more wrong decisions nor bad installations of refractories 
• Less production stop because of ladle slide gate steel infiltration

• Optimization of the refractories life-time and consumption
• Live monitoring of the performances of refractories
• Less time at make-up area = more time in circulation

• Lower energy consumption by less ladle reheating to compensate heat loss at make-up area
• Possibly less ladles needed in circulation

• Cleaner production with less CO2 emission, less wastes and less transportation

• Improved refractory plate performance with safe supervision 
• More heats/plate set 
• Less labour intervention 
• Faster ladle turn around 
• Less heat loss in ladle circulation (less energy) 
• Less qualified operators to do a qualified decision on plate conditions 
• Less accidents, safer operation at caster 
• Less waste of refractory plates 
• Total traceability on plate performance (records for post analyse) 
• Better adjustment on plate material quality for steel grade application (measurable results) 
• Possibility to manage consumable stock based on consumption figures 
• Part of RCT-MU (full automated ladle preparation area)