Jan. 2006 — The Siemens Industrial Solutions and Services Group (I&S) recently received an order from Beijing Shougang Co., Ltd., to supply the electrical equipment for an annealing line and two hot-dip galvanizing lines. The order is valued around 20 million euros.
The processing lines are part of a new production complex that is currently being constructed northeast of Beijing. The new strip processing lines — a 950,000 tonnes per year annealing line and two 415,000 tonnes per year hot-dip galvanizing lines — will be used for processing low-alloyed, cold-rolled carbon steels for high-quality car body parts. Siemens will supply all the drive systems as well as the basic and process automation, including the technological control systems for the built-in skinpass mill stand and the stretch leveler.
All the main and auxiliary drives are based on AC technology. In addition, the projects include HMI equipment with user-friendly process and plant diagnostic functions. Automation will be provided in the form of the "Siroll PL" automation concept for strip processing lines on the basis of Simatic S7 programmable controllers. Standard application modules will be widely used for programming. This will facilitate commissioning and maintenance.
Flatness will be controlled at the line’s skinpass mill stand by means of the "Siflat" non-contact flatness measurement system. This system reliably ensures that narrow tolerances — especially demanded by customers in the automotive industry — are not exceeded and that no damage is done to the surface of the strip, for example due to scratching.
For all three lines, Siemens will also be responsible for supervision of installation work, commissioning and customer training. The annealing line will be set up by a consortium consisting of Siemens, SMS-Demag AG, Germany, and Drever International, Belgium. The two hot galvanizing lines will be built in a consortium with CMI, Belgium, and Drever International.
With completion of this project, the production systems of all processes at the new Shougang mill — from cold rolling to strip processing — will be equipped with electrical and automation systems from Siemens. The processing lines are scheduled to start production in spring 2008.
With an annual production capacity of around 8.5 million tonnes of crude iron and steel, Shougang is the third-largest steel producer in China.
The Siemens Industrial Solutions and Services Group (I&S) is the integrator of systems and solutions for industrial and infrastructure facilities and global service provider for the plant and projects business covering planning, installation, operation and the entire life cycle. I&S uses the electrical and technical products of other Siemens Groups in order to enhance productivity and improve competitiveness of companies in the sectors of metallurgy, water treatment, pulp and paper, oil and gas, marine engineering, open-cast mining, intelligent traffic systems and industrial services. In fiscal 2004 (to September 30) I&S employed a total of 30,000 people worldwide and achieved total sales of EUR 4.290 billion.