Siemens to modernize pickling line tandem cold mill at voestalpine Stahl in Linz

Boosting operating reliability and improving quality

voestalpine Stahl GmbH, a company of the listed voestalpine Group, has placed an order with Siemens to modernize the coupled tandem pickling line No. 1 at its Linz plant in Austria. The flat-tank pickling process will be renewed, new mechanical components will be installed in some plant sections and the electrical, automation and safety technology will be updated according to the state of the art. This is intended to further improve the pickling process and also to boost operating reliability. The order volume is in the two-digit euro millions range. The project will be completed in September 2014.

The coupled tandem pickling line at voestalpine Stahl GmbH in Linz is designed for strip widths of up to 1,640 millimeters and thicknesses from 0.3 to 3 millimeters, and has an annual production capacity of 2.3 million tons of cold strip. It consists of a hydrochloric acid flat-tank turbulence pickling system and a five-stand tandem mill. The pickling line and tandem cold mill were already coupled and modernized in the mid-1990s with the contribution of Siemens VAI.

Within the scope of the current modernization project, the entry and coupling area will be provided with new bridle units to adjust the optimum strip tension. In the flat-tank pickling line, the pickling tanks 3 and 4 will be replaced and completely new piping for pickling acid feeding and discharge will be installed. To improve monitoring of process parameters, the instrumentation will also be renewed. Moreover, there will be a new pickling model for the pickling process and some still existing DC drives will be replaced with Sinamics S120 three-phase drive systems. The pickling process will be equipped with modern fluids technology, including low-pressure mill stand valve stands and valve stands for the pickling exit.

In the tandem mill, at the stands 4 and 5 the existing DC drives will be replaced with Sinamics SL synchronous drives, the main drive clutches will be replaced and the intermediate stand areas will be modernized. The existing three-phase supplies of the regulated auxiliary drives will be replaced with new Sinamics S120 units.

Siemens is also renewing the complete basic and process automation including the tandem pickling line's process models. To facilitate system diagnostics and to simplify operation, the visualization system will be updated and all main and local control desks will be replaced.

Siemens is also responsible for the installation and commissioning of the modernization, and the necessary conversions will be implemented during four scheduled plant shutdown periods.

Further information on solutions for steel works, roll mills and processing lines can be found at: http://www.siemens.com/metals

Please see: http://www.siemens.com/mt-picture/IMT201206167
(Entry looper and tandem cold mill of the coupled pickling line tandem cold mill at voestalpine Stahl in Linz, Austria. Siemens will be modernizing this plant by September 2014).

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