The caster, which currently produces slabs of thicknesses 190, 250 and 300mm, will in future be able to also produce slabs with a thickness of 350mm. The maximum cast width will remain unchanged at 2.7m. The future higher weight per meter of the slabs will optimise the allotment of the plates to be produced from the slabs. As a result, the yield will increase markedly.
The SMS group’s scope of supply for the continuous caster includes the basic and detail engineering, the optimisation of the secondary cooling system, the adaption of the X-Pact electrical and automation systems, the upgrade of the technological process models (level 2) and supervision of installation and commissioning.
To be able to handle the greater slab thickness in the plate mill, the maximum roll lift in the horizontal stand will be increased from 320 to 370mm. This will be achieved mainly by modifying the CVC roll bending and shifting system, installing new chocks for the upper work roll and adapting the back-up roll balancing system. SMS group will also supply a new level-2 model for the reheating furnaces and an upgrade of the process models in the rolling mill.
The project - including all modification and installation work and the commissioning - is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2017.
The continuous slab caster and the 5.0-m heavy-plate mill were supplied by SMS group in 2009. The mill stand was the first in Russia to feature a CVC plus system. With a rolling force of 120 MN it is one of the most powerful mill stands in the world.