Tata Steel produces first coil after extensive CSP plant upgrade
Following an extensive upgrade project completed by SMS group, Tata Steel Ltd. has successfully rolled the first coils at its Jamshedpur CSP® (Tata Steel TSCR) plant in Jharkhand, India. The revamp included the integration of a new F7 finishing stand as well as comprehensive enhancements to legacy X-Pact® automation systems, such as the complete renewal of hardware and software, for example. As a result, the mill is now capable of producing thinner gauges and higher quality products, underscoring SMS group’s lifecycle partnership approach.
The existing CSP® plant, originally delivered and commissioned by SMS in 2011, has an annual output of approximately 2.5 million tons, producing strip in widths from 900 to 1,680 millimeters and thicknesses from 16 down to one millimeter.
In addition to the new F7 rolling stand, SMS’s upgrade project included the adaptation of the existing roll-changing equipment. With one additional mill stand, the rolling load distribution can be optimized for harder materials at wider widths and thinner gauges, in particular. The F7 mill stand ensures there are fewer bottlenecks for certain products in the finishing mill. This boosts output for such grades and allows the CSP® casters to operate at an optimized casting thickness for improved overall efficiency.
Additionally, the modernization aimed at enhancing mill stands F1 to F5, with the installation of a new hydraulically-operated pass line adjustment system. Five laminar cooling sections were replaced by four reinforced cooling units with edge masking. The entire exit area was upgraded, including a new measuring house, and provision was made for a second multifunction gauge in the future.
Among the technical enhancements, SIEFLEX® gear-type spindles with internal oil return line were also incorporated. The SIEFLEX® gear-type spindle is designed to transmit up to twice as much torque as conventional shafts through advanced hardening, optimized tooth geometry, and a proprietary tribo system. At the same time, it features a continuous oil lubrication system that ensures effective cooling, eliminates the need for grease maintenance, extends the service life, and reduces rolling mill downtimes.
As part of the revamp, SMS level 1 and level 2 automation systems were upgraded within the powerful X-Pact® ProBAS platform based on X-Pact® Embedded controllers, and the existing Human Machine Interface (HMI) was updated. These technological advancements provide high-speed control capabilities for the CSP® rolling mill, ensuring reliable and efficient plant operations.
