ArcelorMittal Kriviy Rih has completed modernization of the automation control system of Light Section Wire Rod Mill No. 250/150-6 in the Rolling Shop No. 3. There the company produces bar and coil rod with diameter from 5.5 up to 32 mm. The initial project price was estimated at UAH 48 million, but actual costs amounted to approximately UAH 37 million, making 11 million savings for the company.
The automation system SIMATIC (Siemens), which ensured automatic monitoring of the equipment, and systems of rod production line and emergency alarms (in case of a stoppage or a danger) were upgraded. SIMATIC-S5 controllers were replaced with up-to-date SIMATIC-7. The modernization enabled to ensure interchangeability of the equipment and to make the rod production at Light Section Wire Rod Mill No. 6 reliable and sustainable. Additionally, they updated the electric driver control system of the Mill’s wire rod block.
Specialists of Primetals Technologies Ukraine installed and adjusted the equipment in cooperation with the engineering and production teams of the company.
Aleksandr Prusakovskyi, Project Manager in Investments and Engineering Department of ArcelorMittal Kriviy Rih: “So far SIMATIC 7 controllers have the biggest capacity among programmable logic controllers. We installed new visualization system and software in the mill. Control panels were also equipped with up-to-date displays, which reflect all information about the Mill operation in more detail. This is an advantage for the operators. The upgraded automation system significantly reduces risks of unplanned stoppages of the Mill. There we roll high-quality billets produced at CCM; that is why the productivity of the Mill is so important in terms of the marketing strategy of ArcelorMittal Kriviy Rih”. (AMKR/Ukrainian metal)