The AG der Dillinger Hüttenwerke and SMS Demag AG have signed an agreement on long-term cooperation in the field of automation technology for heavy plate rolling.

Main objectives of the partnership are continuous improvement of the process models and the automated process control in Level 1 and Level 2, optimization of process sequences and plant components, and optimization of the diagnosis of plant condition to ensure product quality. Both partners will invest their extensive knowledge of product and market requirements in the partnership.

The cooperation includes joint developments on the PLATE control model. PLATE was developed by the Arcelor Group in cooperation with Dillinger Hüttenwerke – GTS.

SMS Demag AG forms part of the Metallurgical Plant and Rolling Mill Technology Business Area of the SMS group. The SMS group is internationally active in plant construction and mechanical engineering relating to the processing of steel, non-ferrous metals and plastics. The group is divided into the business areas of Metallurgical Plant and Rolling Mill Technology, Tube, Long Product and Forging Technology and Plastics Technology. In the year 2003 around 9,500 employees worldwide generated a turnover of around EUR 2.20 billion.