The line features a roller hearth tunnel furnace, two walking beam reheating furnaces, high-pressure descaling box, slab sizing press, two sets of 4-high reversible roughing stands with vertical edgers, crop shear, 6-stand finishing mill, laminar cooling unit, three downcoilers and an automated coil transport system. 

“We now have the flexibility to align products and processes with customer needs in real time, backed by stable, repeatable quality from day one,” said Qiao Degao, chief executive officer of JISCO Hongyu New Materials Co. Ltd. 

JISCO said the new line has increased its operational flexibility, will offer higher-value steel grades and increased its capacity from 2 million to 4.5 million metric tons annually. 

SMS group said its automation system allows for a rapid switchover between production routes, a quick ramp-up and stable performance. The scope included an upgrade of CSP level 1 and level 2 systems and new automation for the hot strip mill with X Pact® process models and the X Pact® Vision HMI.

“Our advanced and unique integrated CSP and hot strip rolling mill automation ensured an exceptionally fast ramp-up, stable rolling, and controllable quality,” said Christoph Stappenbeck, vice president of automation, digital and service solutions for SMS group China.

The companies said with SMS’s X Pact automation, the billet scheduling and rolling rhythm between the CSP tunnel furnace and HSM reheating furnaces are synchronized and allow for real-time process adjustments.