core sector communique

SMS SIEMAG

Panzhihua orders two annealing lines for the production of high-quality strips for the  automotive and electrical appliances industries

Panzhihua (Panzhihua Iron and Steel Group  Co., Ltd.)China, has placed an order with SMS Siemag, Germany, to supply two  continuous annealing  lines for the new works in Xichang, Sichuan province, in the southwest of China. On the lines, a total of more than 1.7 million tpy of high-quality steel  strips are to be produced for the automotive and electrical appliances industries. The annealing process and the particularly high cooling rates enable the strain hardening from the rolling process to be reduced in the material and allow the high-grade mechanical properties to be attained exactly as required.  The two lines possess identical components and mainly differ according to the maximum widths and yield strengths of the steel strips to be produced. The lines will commence operation at the end of 2013.

Besides the design of the mechanical equipment and thefabrication of a number of special components, SMS Siemag’s supply scope includes the supervision of erection and commissioning. Drever International will be providing both lines with high-capacity annealing furnaces with an integrated ultra-fast cooling system. Cooling rates of up to 120 K/s/mm can be achieved with this cooling system, allowing high-strength materials to be produced.

Line No. 1 is designed  for strips with a gage of  0.35 to 2.0 mm and widths ranging from 870 to 1,870 mm. The process speed is 420 m/min, while in the entry section 700 m/min can be attained and in the exit section up to 820 m/min. An annual capacity of 923,600 t thus becomes possible. Line No. 2 is designed for strips with gauges from 0.3 to 2.5 mm and widths between 870 and 1,620 mm. The

Besides the design of the mechanical  equipment and  the fabrication of a number of special components, SMS Siemag’s  supply scope includes the supervision of erection and  commissioning.  Drever  International will be providing both lines with high-capacity annealing furnaces maximum process speed in this case is 430 m/min, while in the entry and exit sections the same speeds as on the first line are attained. The line has a capacity of 816,800 tpy.

In both lines, the product range  embraces the grades CQ, DQ, DDQ, SEDDQ, CQ-HSS , DDQ-HSS, DDQ-HSS, DP, TRIP. Line No. 1 will be producing strips with yield strengths up to 600 MPa. Line No. 2 will be used for the  production of stronger strips, with yield strengths of 980 MPa being  achievable.

Essential components of both lines are two  payoff reels, a welding machine, cleaning section, vertical entry accumulator, Drever furnace, vertical exit accumulator, six-high skin-pass stand, inspection accumulator, side trimmer, inspection stand, oiler, flying shear and two tension reels.

Heavy-plate mill for Nanjing Iron & Steel Co.,Ltd. 

The Chinese steel  group Nanjing Iron & Steel Co., Ltd. (NISCO) has awarded an order to SMS Siemag , Germany, to build a new 4.7-m heavy-plate mill. The order comprises the supply of a finishing stand with CVC plus technological X-Pact automation  systems such as profile and flatness control and leveling model.

The new plant will be built in Nanjing and will start operation in 2013. With this heavy-plate mill, NISCO aims at attaining an annual production of 1.6 million t. The product range covers all steel grades currently demanded by the market such as tube and pipe steel, ship plates and other high-strength steel grades.

The finishing  stand has a rolling force of 120 MN and is equipped with hydraulic adjustment systems,work-roll bending system and CVC plus system (Continuously Variable Crown). In combination with SMS Siemag’s profile and flatness control (PFC), CVC plus enables the production of plates with close geometrical tolerances and a high throughput.

The pre-leveler is equipped with seven leveling rolls and will be installed upstream of the plate cooling system. It removes flatness deviations prior to cooling, thus contributing to uniform cooling.

The hot plate leveler will be designed as a nine-roll unit and has a leveling force of 44 MN. The leveler rolls have purely hydraulic adjustment. The pre-leveler and hot plate leveler will use SMS Siemag’s technological control systems.

The shearing  line consists of a cropping shear, a double-side trimming shear and a dividing shear. All shears operate with the rolling-cut principle, cutting high-strength plates which are up to 50 mm thick.