Posted on 17 Jul 2023
Danieli Automation bar mill upgrade completed with a short shutdown, six days earlier than schedule
After more than 20 years of stable operations, Huaigang Special Steel entrusted Danieli Industrial Automation –Danieli Automation’s China-based branch– for the automation and drives control system upgrade of the bar mill supplied by Danieli in 1999.
To ensure continuous, reliable mill operation, Huaigang Special Steel requested a hardware and software upgrade for the DC drive system, automation system controller, and HMI/TWS & network system.
The drive system was updated with 27 sets of controllers, while the power part was reused. The AC drives remained the same, except for an interface upgrade with the automation PLC. The stand and shear (start/stop shear, dividing shear, pendulum shear) main drives were upgraded from 6RA70 to 6RA80.
The automation system controllers were upgraded to a Siemens S7-400 model, together with the remote IO modules. The automation system covers the following process areas: reheating furnace exit, continuous rolling mill and shears, cut-to-length area and the bundling and collecting area. Additionally, the system has both an optimized dividing shear function and additional auto-billet call function.
HMI/TWS & network system were upgraded with a new, 3Q graphic user interface, while the network was redesigned to include supplies for a powerful platform.
Despite limited access to the plant Danieli Automation engineers supported the customers via remote supervisory services for wiring, dismantling and installation activities.
In nine days, the entire network system was successfully set up. It took just a little more than 10 days (day and night shifts) before the hot test succeeded, six days earlier than original schedule. Finally, Danieli Automation specialists trained the Huaigang Special Steel operation and maintenance team.
Source:Danieli
