In a statement, AIC said it is automating the mill from the reheat furnace exit to the cooling bed. The automated section includes a rougher area, pendulum shear, 14-stand continuous mill, intermediate and dividing shears, and the cooling bed entry conveyor.

The work also entailed installation of new motor drives. 

The work is being carried out in two phases, with the first phase having been completed. The second phase is to be carried out during an outage set for this summer. But AIC said the project is already delivering results.

“The main upgrade has improved performance and reduced both operating expenses and the loss of time, thanks to the replacement of all obsolete control systems and the installation of new drives,” it said.