Improving Factory Efficiency with the ABB Ability

Gränges, a major player in rolled products including strips for heat exchangers, is able to achieve up to 40% improvement of strip flatness using the combination of ABB Ability cloud-based solutions and the ABB Stressometer Flatness Control Systems.

ABB’s Solution

A critical success factor for flat rolling mills is high performing flatness measurement and control. With five decades of experience in flatness control, ABB now applies the latest technology in cloud technology, modeling, computing and electronics to provide a holistic approach to strip flatness control in rolling mills.

This method involves measurement and control of process variables in the actual rolling mill and in the up-stream and down-stream processes using a combination of a novel patented Stressometer technology for controlled post rolling flatness (CPRF) and the ABB Ability^TM cloud-based solutions.

ABB Ability^TM connects customers to the power of the Industrial Internet of Things and turns data insights into the direct action through services and expertise.

Over 1,200 rolling mills across the globe make use of ABB Stressometer Flatness Control Systems for on-line measurement and control of strip flatness. Stressometer has been the leader in both measurement and control of flatness since the introduction of the first version of the system in 1967. A Stressometer will ensure that the strip flatness out of the mill is in line with the target.

However, post rolling processes also affect the strip flatness and might impair the flatness from the mill. Flatness measurement is added at the end of the production process by the CPRF function. This additional measurement data is used in combination with other process data to derive a flatness target correction for the rolling mill that will negate post rolling effects on the flatness of the strip. Substantial savings are made possible through higher speed, safer rolling, optimized process flow, less strip breaks, less scrap, and less rejects from customers.

Flatness quality of rolled strip at Gränges is crucial for both the rolling processes and the post rolling processes. The use of the Stressometer CPRF function makes the follow-up and visualization of the actual strip flatness in the different processes easier. It also facilitates design of flexible quality reports on-demand with analysis of production issues. Optimized flatness target maps are produced and updated when required for all used alloys and products. As a result, Gränges now achieves outstanding strip flatness in the post rolling processes.

This information has been sourced, reviewed and adapted from materials provided by ABB Measurement & Analytics.

For more information on this source, please visit ABB Measurement & Analytics.