Danieli Centro Tube [DCT], Italy, received the first Chinese order to restructure and modernize a seamless tube plant for Chengdu Iron & Steel Corp. located in Chengdu, China.

As part of the modernization, the tube plant will be equipped with an FQM-mill, a newly developed three-¬roll continuous rolling mill with retained mandrel. The FQM mill also includes an extractor and a stretch reducing block, both of which will be supplied by Friedrich Kocks GmbH & Co. KG, Germany, in accordance with the existing cooperation agreement between Danieli Centro Tube and Kocks.

Kocks will be responsible for the process, design, supply and commissioning of the three-stand extractor and the 24-stand stretch reducing block [SRB], both based on the three-roll Star Drive design. The stands, which have a nominal roll diameter of 360 mm, will include adjustable as well as non-adjustable types. The mill will feature a quick stand changing system, in-line remote controlled pass adjustment for the adjustable stands, and the quick roll changing system in the roll shop, similar to the well-known 3-roll Reducing & Sizing Blocks [RSB].

The process automation systems and the Tumicon System, consisting of various components completely developed by Kocks, are also part of the scope of supply. The Tumicon computer program includes calculation of the pass design and optimum setup values (e.g. motor speed) as well as a management tool for rolls and stands. The Tec-Box component is a highly dynamic open-and-closed-loop system for quality optimization with the functions AWC for wall thickness control and HEC for minimization of heavy ends. These components are completed by the INSPECT-System, which allows the operator to visualize the technological controls of the Tec-Box as well as the measured values from the rolling mill (wall thickness, heavy ends, etc.).

After the modernization, the mill will produce 350,000 tonnes of seamless tube per year with diameters in the range of 48.3 to 177.8 mm for use in the gas and oil industry. Commissioning is scheduled for the first half of 2007.

Chengdu Iron & Steel Corp. belongs to the Panggang Group.