29 July, 2011
ArcelorMittal Hamburg GmbH, Germany, has placed an order with SMS Meer, Germany, for the modernization of a two-strand wire rod mill. The annual capacity amounts to 900,000 tons. With this revamp ArcelorMittal aims to improve the product quality with a view to further consolidating its leading position on the quality-steels market. New cantilever stands from SMS Meer will enable higher rolling forces in the future.
This is already the fifth modernization order which ArcelorMittal has placed with SMS Meer for the wire rod mill supplied in 1969. With the present revamp, ArcelorMittal is continuing the abolition of the mill stands designed for two-strand operation. The company will be re-placing the last two mill stands of the intermediate train 1. Currently, a two-strand rolling operation is taking place in these mill stands.
SMS Meer will be converting this section into two single-strand rolling lines. For this purpose, the existing looper tables will be moved and two new mill stands of type CL 200 will be positioned in V-H arrangement for each strand. These cantilever mill stands represent a new generation and are able to absorb even higher rolling forces and rolling torques.
Says Project Manager Hans-Gerd Limper of SMS Meer: “This re-vamp reflects our leading role in the modernization of wire rod and bar mills. Even older rolling mills are able to be brought up to the state of the art and to a competitive level through optimum tailor-made solutions. Investment costs are thus kept low and the amortization period of the investment is short.”
The modernization will be completed in September 2012.