Allegheny Technologies Inc. (ATI) awarded a major contract to Siemens VAI Metals Technologies GmbH to design, engineer, and supply a complete integrated hot-rolling mill on a process turn-key basis. The new mill will be part of a new advanced specialty metals hot-rolling and processing facility, and will be built at ATI Allegheny Ludlum in Brackenridge, Pa.
The new mill will be capable of rolling a range of stainless steels and other specialty alloys at widths exceeding 2000 mm. Siemens says that the rolling forces will be the highest ever to be applied in a hot-strip mill.
The new integrated facility is designed to produce a product mix for ATI Allegheny Ludlum that includes stainless alloys, grain-oriented electrical steel, titanium and titanium alloys, nickel-based alloys, zirconium alloys, and other specialty alloys. Strip, sheet, and plate products will be able to be produced on this line.
The project scope for Siemens VAI comprises engineering, manufacture of special components, the supply and installation of mechanical equipment and the electrical and automation systems that include the main and auxiliary motors, drives, basis automation, process automation, manufacturing execution system, and instrumentation. A water-treatment plant will also be provided.
The finishing mill will feature SmartCrown rolls in conjunction with L-type bending blocks for superior strip profile and flatness control, long-stroke hydraulic cylinders for automatic gauge control, advanced work-roll cooling and work-roll lubrication. The cooling headers can be flow-controlled on the basis of the output from the Siemens VAI microstructure target cooling model.
Additional highlights include the mill's capability to handle and roll both slabs and ingots in the roughing mill. Supervisory services for erection, start-up, and commissioning, in addition to customer training, are also part of Siemens VAI's scope of supply.
Allegheny Technologies Inc. is one of the world's largest and most diversified producers of specialty metals that are used in the aerospace and defense, oil and gas/chemical process industries, electrical energy, medical, automotive, food equipment and appliance, machine and cutting tools, construction and mining markets.
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 207,000 employees worldwide (September 30), Siemens Industry achieved in fiscal year 2009 total sales of approximately €35 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 31,000 employees worldwide (September 30), Siemens Industry Solutions posted sales of €6.8 billion in fiscal year 2009.