July 2006 — Arcelor Bremen GmbH has awarded SMS Demag, Germany, an order for the design and supply of a new heavy-gage strip coiler for high-strength tube steel grades. The new heavy-gage strip coiler is equipped with four wrapper rolls. It will replace the third coiler of the existing coiler group in the 2,300-mm hot strip mill supplied in 1973.

SMS Demag’s scope of supply comprises a new retractable coiler, including pinch roll unit, side guards and carry-over tables, all utility systems and the complete automation, and part of the drive technology. The motor of the coiler mandrel will be retained to be provided with a new gear unit.

In addition to the supply of Coiler No. 3, SMS Demag will also carry out further modernization work on the existing coiler unit. This includes the conversion to hydraulic operation of all side guards on the complete coiler group and the installation of a mandrel support bearing on the overhung Coiler No. 2.

With the new coiler, Arcelor Bremen intends to extend its range of products and improve the coil quality. In the future, it will be possible to coil high-strength tube steel grades (up to X80) up to a gage of 25.4 mm and a width of 2,150 mm. The total investment will enable Arcelor Bremen to respond efficiently to the increasingly exacting demands of the market in the high-strength tube steel sector.

Altogether for the complete installation, modification and commissioning work on the coiler units, SMS Demag will only require three short production stoppages, involving a total duration of 168 hours. Commissioning is scheduled for December 2007.

SMS Demag AG forms part of the Metallurgical Plant and Rolling Mill Technology Business Area of the SMS group. SMS GmbH is the holding for a group of companies 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 2005 some 9,250 employees worldwide generated a turnover of about EUR 2.33 billion.