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V & M Star Builds New Ohio Plant
06/06/2011 - V & M Star is building a new seamless tube plant in Youngstown, scheduled for commissioning in the first half of 2012. Construction is being carried out by Danieli Centro Tube, and Friedrich Kocks will supply its latest-generation Extractor and Stretch Reducing Block.
V & M Star is building a new plant in Youngstown, located in the Mahoning County between Pittsburgh and Cleveland. Construction is being carried out by Danieli Centro Tube, a member of the Italian Danieli-Group, and German company Friedrich Kocks will supply its latest-generation Extractor and Stretch Reducing Block.
Commissioning of the new seamless tube plant is scheduled for the first half of 2012.
The hot rolling mill is an integral part of this new tube plant. It is a continuous mill and consists of an FQM™-Elongator, an Extracting Block (EXB) and a Stretch Reducing Block (SRB). After its completion, the plant will be capable of producing 450,000 tonnes per year of high-quality seamless tubes within a diameter range of 60.3 to 180.0 mm with tolerances and mechanical properties according to international standards.
Friedrich Kocks will supply the 3-stand EXB and the 24-stand SRB, both based on the 3-roll "Star Drive" design featuring separate drives for individually driven rolls. The 3-roll stands for EXB and SRB are designed for a nominal roll diameter of 360 mm. The extractor will be operated with nonadjustable stands only, whereas the stretch reducer will be equipped with the nonadjustable stands for the reducing passes as well as the adjustable ones for the finishing passes.
The scope of supply also comprises the process automation systems and the Kocks’ Tumicon-System, which consists of various components. The computer program Tumicon serves as calculator for the pass design and optimum setup values (e.g., motor speed) as well as a management tool for rolls and stands. The Tec-Box with the functions AWC for wall thickness control and HEC for minimization of heavy ends is a highly dynamic open and closed-loop system for quality optimization.
The supply is completed by the Inspect-System, which visualizes the technological controls of the Tec-Box as well as the measured values from the rolling mill (wall thickness, heavy ends, etc.). Process know-how and commissioning of the scope of supply are also Kocks’ responsibility.
V & M Star is a leading seamless tube producer in North America. The company belongs to Vallourec, a world leader in premium tubular solutions primarily serving the energy markets, as well as other industrial applications. With over 20,000 employees, integrated manufacturing facilities, advanced R&D, and presence in more than 20 countries, Vallourec offers its customers innovative global solutions to meet the growing energy challenges of the 21st century.
