Mar 3 2008
Siemens Metals Technologies is supplying the complete automation and drive technology for a new, five-stand coupled tandem pickling line of the Chinese Hanbao Iron & Steel Company Ltd. (Hanbao Steel), a joint venture of Handan Iron and Steel Co. and the Baosteel Group. The project is part of the company's expansion of its cold steel strip production. The new line is scheduled to start production by mid-2010.
Hanbao Steel, located in Handan in Hebei Province about 400 kilometers south of Beijing, is building a new 2080 mm cold rolling mill for automotive applications with a capacity of 2.15 million metric tons a year. The first coupled tandem pickling of Hanbao Steel is operating since 2005, and has also been equipped with electric and automation from Siemens.
For the new coupled tandem pickling line, Siemens is supplying the drive technology and the entire automation system. Non-salient pole synchronous motors will be used as the main drives and will be supplied with power via DC link converters. Automation of the plant will be based on the “Siroll CM” solution concept and will include the technological control systems as well as the complete process automation. Gauge control according to the advanced mass flow concept, online rolling process control on the basis of analytical mathematical models and self-learning neural networks will also be provided as well as the flatness measurement and control system.
In addition, the order includes HMI equipment with user-friendly process and plant diagnostic functions. Moreover, Siemens will supervise assembly and installation of all the components, while also being responsible for commissioning and customer training. The power supply system, the motors for the auxiliary drives and all the infrastructure devices and equipment will be provided by Chinese companies.
The main reasons for awarding the contract to Siemens were the customer’s good experience with the mill in operation, Siemens´ references in the field of coupled tandem pickling lines, the convincing technical solution Siroll CM and its local presence in China. This project confirms and consolidates Siemens' position as world leader in the market for this type of highly productive and technologically sophisticated plant.