HBIS Tangsteel operates the world’s largest push-type pickling line
The Chinese steel manufacturer’s new plant enables a wide product range, comparable to two conventional pickling lines. The pickling process achieves excellent surface quality whilst reducing scrap and expanding the processing options for the coils. The plant is also capable of producing ultra-thin silicon steel.
Primetals has received the Provisional Acceptance Certificate (PAC) for the world’s largest push-type pickling line (PPPL) at the HBIS Tangsteel steelworks in Laoting, Hebei Province, China. The new plant processes strip thicknesses ranging from 1.8 to 15 millimetres at speeds of up to 200 metres per minute. This enables a broad product range that would normally only be achievable with two conventional pickling lines. The plant manufacturer supplied all mechanical, electrical and automation components and was also responsible for the engineering and supervision of the installation.
Through targeted process optimisation and the use of state-of-the-art control technology, the plant achieved outstanding coiling quality for steel coils up to over 12 millimetres thick. This ensures uniform strip tension, reduces misalignment between the layers and improves edge guidance. The result: higher surface quality, less scrap and more options for further coil processing – a decisive step forward for demanding applications in the automotive, construction and mechanical engineering industries.
Maximised yield
A tool for the automated analysis and control of the pickling process supports the PPPL. According to Primetals, operating staff are provided with a comprehensive overview and can control the production process with a high degree of precision. The Level 2 automation system features a software model that takes several parameters into account to ensure optimum temperature, pickling levels, flow rates and turbulence. This results in increased yield, optimised energy consumption and minimised pickling agent consumption.
The plant also features an integrated, single-stand 4-high dressing mill for improved flatness control and a turret-type shearing line for thicknesses of 2 to 8 millimetres to optimise strip edge quality.
HBIS Tangsteel is one of the largest state-owned iron and steel companies in China. Its product portfolio includes hot-rolled and cold-rolled sheet, galvanised sheet, medium-gauge and heavy-gauge sheet, as well as bar, wire and section products. The products are used in the automotive and equipment industries, in mechanical engineering, in the infrastructure sector and in bridge construction, and are supplied to more than 100 countries worldwide.
Source: Primetals Technologies