The finishing section of bar mill number three at Al Jubail, which was originally supplied by Danieli, is to be modernised and made more user friendly by Danieli Automation.
In what is described as a turnkey project, the main task is to install new 690-volt drives on the bar mill’s existing footprint and interface them to the mill’s existing automation.
According to Danieli Automation, the scope of the supply will include new drive panels and motor controls for stands 12 to 18, shears 2 and 3, pendulum drive knives 1 and 2 and the pendulum drive unit for bar mill number three. All of this will be supplied together along with the necessary hardware and software modifications to quickly establish communication between the new drive panels and modules and the existing PLCs Level 1 automation system.
In addition to user-friendliness, the new drives will introduce a power recovery capability, enhance performance and reduce power consumption. The revamp will reduce rolling mill maintenance requirements and improve spare parts availability.
The Al Jabail project follows hot on the heels of other modernisation contracts with SABIC Hadeed, which involved the upgrading of HSM drives and CCM 4 drives.
Established in 1979, SABIC Hadeed employs 3,000 people and produces rebar, wire rod, hot rolled and cold rolled coil and galvanised steel coils. It boasts an annual capacity of 1Mt/yr.