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Siemens to Modernize SSAB EMEA Continuous Annealing Line
02/18/2011 - SSAB EMEA has commissioned Siemens to equip the continuous annealing line at the Borlänge production facility with new automation and drive systems.
Swedish flat-steel producer SSAB EMEA has commissioned Siemens to equip the continuous annealing line at the Borlänge production facility with new automation and drive systems.
A new migration strategy was developed to allow existing user programs and the associated plant-specific data to be further used. The migration strategy makes it possible to automatically transfer a series of plant functions and also to replace the existing automation solution of a third-party supplier.
Siemens is supplying automation technology and drive components for modernization of the Continuous Annealing line. The basic automation is carried out with the support of programmable logical controllers (PLC) Simatic S7-400 with PCS 7 as the control system.
The existing automation solution was installed by a third-party supplier in 1995, thus requiring a strategy to replace it during regularly scheduled plant maintenance downtimes. The migration solution to be applied at the production facility in Borlänge was pre-tested in smaller projects and assures that most of the process know-how contained in the user programs is preserved. Portions of the user programs can be transferred fully automatically. The remaining functions will be manually installed.
Some 110 line drives also will be modernized. DC drives from a third party supplier that were installed in the early 1980s will be replaced by new Sinamics DCM DC drives.
The modernization project will be carried out during regularly scheduled maintenance downtimes and project completion is expected by the end of 2012.
The SSAB Group is a leading manufacturer of high-strength steels. The rolling and processing lines for the production of high-quality strip products are concentrated at the production facility in Borlänge. Annual production capacity amounts to approximately 2.8 million tons of steel products.
The Siemens Industry Sector (Erlangen, Germany) is a leading international supplier of environmentally friendly production, transportation, building and lighting technologies. The Sector comprises six divisions: Building Technologies, Drive Technologies, Industry Automation, Industry Solutions, Mobility and Osram. With around 204,000 employees worldwide (September 30), Siemens Industry achieved in fiscal year 2010 total sales of approximately €34.9 billion.
The Siemens Industry Solutions Division (Erlangen, Germany) is one of the world's leading solution and service providers for industrial and infrastructure facilities comprising the business activities of Siemens VAI Metals Technologies, Water Technologies and Industrial Technologies. Activities include engineering and installation, operation and service for the entire life cycle. With around 29,000 employees worldwide (September 30), Siemens Industry Solutions posted sales of €6.0 billion in fiscal year 2010.
