More power for modern grades of steel: Siemens to modernize main drives of Aperam’s hot rolling mill in Belgium

Siemens has won an order to replace the existing DC main drives of the finishing mill at Aperam’s stainless steel plant in Châtelet, Belgium with more powerful AC systems. This project is part of comprehensive modernization plans within Aperam’s Leadership JourneyTM to reduce costs and improve profitability. The drives will be modernized in seven stages during scheduled annual maintenance stoppages, completion is expected by the end of 2019. The first conversion work is planned for mid-2013.

A total of seven stands are to be modernized at the finishing mill of Aperam’s hot rolling mill. Siemens will supply the motors, converters and transformers for this and will handle installation supervision, commissioning and training. All seven stands of the finishing mill in Châtelet will be equipped with identical compact twelve-megawatt machines which will be used for the first time. Adapting the existing structural environment presents an exceptional challenge, especially with regard to the existing different motor foundations. The modernization project will be carried out jointly by the Siemens Competence Center for electrical and automation engineering in the steel industry in Erlangen, Germany, and by Siemens Belgium.
Aperam has six production sites in Europe and Brazil with an annual capacity of 2.5 million tons of flat stainless steel products for a wide range of applications. The company is quoted on the stock markets of Amsterdam, Paris and Luxembourg. Its main European stainless steel plants are located in Châtelet and Genk, Belgium, and Gueugnon and Isbergues, France.

Further information about solutions for steel works, rolling mills and processing lines is available at: http://www.siemens.com/metals

Aperam is a global player in stainless, electrical and specialty steel, with operations in more than 30 countries. The business is organized in three divisions: Stainless & Electrical Steel, Services & Solutions and Alloys & Specialties. Aperam has 2.5 million tonnes of flat stainless steel capacity in Brazil and Europe and is a leader in high value added niches - alloys and specialties. Aperam has a highly integrated distribution, processing and services network and a unique capability to produce stainless and specialty from low cost biomass (charcoal). Its industrial network is concentrated in six main plants located in Brazil, Belgium and France. Aperam has about 10,500 employees. Aperam commits to operate in a responsible way with respect to health, safety and the well-being of its employees, contractors and the communities in which it operates. It is also committed to the sustainable management of the environment and of finite resources. In 2011, Aperam had revenues of USD 6.3 billion and shipments of 1.75 million tonnes. For further information, please refer to our website at www.aperam.com

The Siemens Industry Sector (Erlangen, Germany) is the world’s leading supplier of innovative and environmentally friendly products and solutions for industrial customers. With end-to-end automation technology and industrial software, solid vertical-market expertise, and technology-based services, the Sector enhances its customers’ productivity, efficiency, and flexibility. With a global workforce of more than 100,000 employees, the Industry Sector comprises the Divisions Industry Automation, Drive Technologies and Customer Services as well as the Business Unit Metals Technologies. For more information, visit www.siemens.com/industry

The Metals Technologies Business Unit (Linz, Austria), part of the Siemens Industry Sector, is one of the world’s leading life cycle partners for the metallurgical industry. The Business Unit offers a comprehensive technology, modernization, product and service portfolio as well as integrated automation and environmental solutions covering the entire lifecycle of plants. For more information, visit www.siemens.com/metals

Based on Siemens (Industry Sector, Metals Technologies) information