Siemens Installs Drive System for SSAB’s Montepelier Steckel Mill
04/13/2012 - Siemens recently commissioned a new drive system at the SSAB Americas’ plate and Steckel mill in Montpelier. The order included two Siemens Sinamics SM150 drive systems and synchronous motors to replace the mill’s existing equipment.
Siemens commissioned a newly installed drive system in late 2011 at the SSAB Americas’ plate and Steckel mill in Montpelier, Iowa. Valued at more than $10 million, the order includes two Siemens Sinamics SM150 drive systems and synchronous motors to replace the mill’s existing equipment.
“In addition to replacing obsolete parts related to the cycloconverter, SSAB wanted a more reliable motor and to reduce maintenance costs associated with the existing equipment,” said John Powell, SSAB facilities engineer, electrical and utilities. “Thus, SSAB replaced the motor and drives with a Siemens solution.”
The power on the mill stands was increased from 19 to 21 MW, giving SSAB headroom to improve their rolling operations even further. The new Siemens drive system includes innovative software tools, including remote access diagnostic features that significantly enhance maintenance and documentation procedures. Siemens also offers a local presence that facilitates more readily available customer service, including spare parts and trained personnel.
“Siemens is certain that SSAB’s new drive system will provide invaluable production, availability and service benefits,” said Aashish Gupta, vice president, Metals Technologies, Siemens Industry. “We are pleased to be able to continue our working relationship with SSAB.”
Currently, Siemens also is modernizing the continuous annealing line at SSAB´s plant in Borlänge, Sweden, with new drives and automation.
SSAB is a global producer of high strength steels with a leading market position in quenched and tempered steels. SSAB Americas is the leading supplier of heavy plate and strip products in North America and Latin America. The company’s Montpelier, Iowa, facility produces steel using a 150-ton electric arc furnace that is then treated in the adjacent secondary metallurgy facilities before being cast into slabs in a single-strand continuous casting machine. The facility’s plate and Steckel mill is capable of producing 1.25 million tons of plate and coil per year.
The Siemens Industry Sector (Erlangen, Germany) is a leading international supplier of innovative and environmentally friendly products and solutions for industrial customers. With a global workforce of more than 100,000 employees, the Industry Sector comprises the Divisions Industry Automation, Drive Technologies and Customer Services as well as the Business Unit Metals Technologies.
The Metals Technologies Business Unit (Linz, Austria), part of the Siemens Industry Sector, is one of the world’s leading life cycle partners for the metallurgical industry. The Business Unit offers a comprehensive technology, modernization, product and service portfolio as well as integrated automation and environmental solutions covering the entire lifecycle of plants.
