The reversing mill was originally built by SMS group in 1974 and specializes in the reduction of strips made from grain-oriented silicon steel (GO Si-Steel). The aim of the modernization is to advance automation, enhance safety and integrate innovative technological advancements for maximum plant availability, the company said. 

“Together, we develop tailored solutions for electrical steel production to boost the availability and safety of the reversing cold rolling mill for years to come,” said Philipp Geisler, solutions flat products at SMS group. 

The project will involve upgrading the current X-Pact® electrical and automation equipment including the embedded controller and high-speed EtherCAT I/O system. Ergonomic control pulpits will replace the existing ones along with the IT infrastructure being virtualized. 

The new automation solution from SMS group will have level 1 and model-based level 2 automation solutions specific to GO Si-Steel production. It will include the X-Pact Vision HMI to ensure effective operator guidance and provide tools such as for system maintenance, diagnostics and troubleshooting. 

Both the original hardware and software for the cold rolling mill will be tested through the X-Pact Plug & Work integration test. This will allow for final optimizations to be completed before installation. The safety control functions are also thoroughly tested during the integration phase. 

The project is scheduled for completion in two phases in 2027, the companies said.