Hulamin and ARC partner to upgrade S5 aluminium cold mill
A Richards Consulting ARC and has partnered with Hulamin to finalise the upgrade of its S5 aluminium cold mill in South Africa. Phase 2 of the Hulamin contract to widen the mill has been completed by ARC as per the original deadline.
Hulamin is not only the largest aluminium rolling operation in Sub-Saharan Africa, but is one of the largest exporters, which represents more than 50% of sales.
Wider strip processing
Increasing the maximum strip width opens new markets to Hulamin and allows the S5 mill to focus on processing wider, 14-out high quality can stock material.
In addition, this will enable better distribution of product across all areas of the plant thereby increasing the overall plant utilisation.
The main component of this upgrade being a new entry bridle with colouring roll designed and supplied by ARC, which not only allows the wider material to be processed but also includes features to ensure accurate roll positioning, stable tension control and ease of maintenance.
The bridle facilitates the mounting of new wider coolant spray bars and the existing coil feed unit.
Additionally included are new, longer work rolls and back up rolls with new bearing arrangements and the associated chock modifications to accommodate the increased width and higher operating temperatures.
The ARC design caters for increased strip temperatures and speeds but also meets the challenges of accommodating the new surface inspection cameras, strip scanners, strip dryness equipment, load cells and flatness measurement system in an already congested area of the mill.
A Hulamin spokesperson after the successful start-up stated: “The mill upgrades were completed as per the project plan with little or no issues related to the work executed by ARC. All the equipment and modifications fixed as planned and have been operating well.”
Mill upgrades
Upgrading a rolling mill is often necessary when introducing a new product and provides an alternative to investing in completely new equipment.
Upgrading is also a cost-effective solution to updating old or obsolete technology and can also minimise the loss of production associated with replacing equipment. However, this is a very specific area of expertise.
