Jiangsu Shagang Group Co. Ltd., P.R. China, recently rolled the first wide plate on its greenfield heavy plate rolling mill. The first rolling for the new plate mill rnade nine passes to smoothly roll plates from a 220-mm thick slab to a finished dimension of 45 mm thick by 4800 mm wide.

The new mill was built in cooperation between ABB and VAI-UK. ABB’s scope of supply comprised a complete ACS 6000SD unit for the main stand and vertical edgers. The medium-voltage ACS 6000SD unit is equipped with direct torque control (DTC) and a synchronous motor control drive system.

ABB’s delivery also included approximately 350 AC 800 units (low voltage, AC, new-generation, with DTC and induction motor control drive systems) controlling nearly 1500 motors for roller tables, shears and other auxiliary functions. The main stand is powered by twin-drive motors (2 x 10 MW at 50 RPM with an overload capacity of 275%). ABB says these motors are the biggest in the world for an application powered by this new, medium-voltage, AC-DC-AC drive technology, which features “clean power” loading of the power network and outstanding speed control performance.

Rolling mill drives are characterized by rapidly varying loads, and by fast switching between acceleration, retardation and constant torque operations over a wide speed range. Position control for the moving equipment must function with high accuracy and include overload capability. ABB’s core expertise in drive systems for demanding plate mill applications ensured success for the first major milestone on this key project.

“The combination of our state-of-the-art drives and motor technology, and ABB Metals Team rolling mill expertise, is helping customers across Asia to meet their capacity and quality goals,” commented Thomas Johansson, Vice President, LBU Sweden & Business Development, Business Unit Metals.

ABB is a leader in power and automation technologies. The ABB Group operates in approximately 100 countries and employs about 107,000 persons.