Baosteel Produces Top Grade Silicon Steels Through PL-TCM
12/17/2008 - Baosteel is successfully producing top grade non-oriented silicon steel through its 1550-mm Pickling Line-Tandem Cold Mill.
Baosteel has successfully produced top grade non-oriented silicon steel through its 1550-mm Pickling Line-Tandem Cold Mill (PL-TCM). Baosteel Branch Company’s Silicon Department developed a butt weld process technology that allowed Baosteel to become the first steelmaker in China and one of few steelmakers in the world that possesses the technology of this process.
The Pickling Line-Tandem Cold Mill is typically used to produce low and medium grade non-oriented steels. With further research, some advanced steelmakers in other countries have developed unique process technologies that allow the production of top grade silicon steels using PL-TCMs. PL-TCMs offer higher production efficiencies compared to the capacity of Sendzimir mill, as well as significant cost advantages.
In 2000, Baosteel puts its 1550-mm PL-TCM into operation for the production of low and medium grade non-oriented steels. Baosteel continued to explore non-conventional processes and ideas to expand its use of the PL-TCM, based on growing demand growth for top-grade non-oriented silicon steel as well as its intent to optimize its product structure, extend its market share and maintain its leading technology position.
The company formed an innovation team from the Silicon Department and Cold Rolling Plant of Baosteel Branch Company to conduct repeated process experiments and control adjustments on its 1550-mm PL-TCM. By the end of 2006, the team’s special rolling process resulted in the production of top grade products through PL-TCM.
According to Baosteel, the team’s technological breakthrough is only the first step. The weld seam quality of steel coils cannot be easily maintained for top-grade products, so strip breaking occurs now and then during trial operation. At present, the PL-TCM keeps running by splicing the low- and medium-grade steel coils, which reduces the unit’s hourly output and yield rate for top grade products. The Silicon Department has gathered its best technical crews to work on optimizing welding technology and the welding process. With great effort through repeated welding process experiments, they have succeeded in stabilizing welding quality, thus enabling continuous rolling of top-grade products.
According to Baosteel, the team’s technological breakthrough is only the first step. The weld seam quality of steel coils cannot be easily maintained for top-grade products, so strip breaking occurs now and then during trial operation. At present, the PL-TCM keeps running by splicing the low- and medium-grade steel coils, which reduces the unit’s hourly output and yield rate for top grade products. The Silicon Department has gathered its best technical crews to work on optimizing welding technology and the welding process. With great effort through repeated welding process experiments, they have succeeded in stabilizing welding quality, thus enabling continuous rolling of top-grade products.
At present, Baosteel reports that the technical breakthrough has led to a greater-than 50% increase in hourly output of top grade products, as well as optimized the yield rate, increased levels of resource utilization, reduced costs. The new technology has also helped the company improve its product structure.
