Jan. 2006 — Laiwu Steel International (LSI), China, has successfully commissioned the heavy beam and section mill supplied by SMS Meer.

LSI will use the new mill, which is designed for an annual capacity of one million tonnes, to produce beams with a maximum web height of 900 mm (1000 mm) and maximum flange width of 400 mm. Only three types of continuous cast beam blanks are required as starting material for the whole product size range.

During cold commissioning, fully automatic roll changing on the tandem stand group was demonstrated in less than 20 minutes. Two weeks after the hot commissioning, LSI was achieving a daily production of 3000 tonnes.

SMS Meer’s scope of supply included a heavy two-high stand, a compact reversing stand group (each consisting of a universal roughing and finishing stand), and a shiftable horizontal edging CCS^® (Compact Cartridge Stand) design stand. SMS Meer also supplied a roller straightener, hot and cold saw installations and the engineering for finishing and loading facilities.

The roller straightener supplied by SMS Meer is the world’s largest CRS^® (Compact Roller Straightener) design roller straightener. It is characterized by straightener shafts mounted in bearings on both sides, hydraulic adjustment of the straightening rollers and fully automatic straightening roller changing using a manipulator crane.

SMS Meer GmbH forms part of the Tube, Long Product and Forging Technology Business Area of the SMS group. SMS GmbH is the holding for a group of companies internationally active in plant construction and mechanical engineering relating to the processing of steel, non-ferrous metals and plastics. The group is divided into the Business Areas of Metallurgical Plant and Rolling Mill Technology, Tube, Long Product and Forging Technology and Plastics Technology. In the year 2004 some 9,500 employees worldwide generated a turnover of about EUR 2.20 billion.