Industrial plant construction specialist SMS group has successfully completed an automation system upgrade for the 5-m heavy plate mill at steel manufacturer Jingye Steel in Yingkou, Liaoning province, China.

Originally installed in 2009, the mill resumed production after a ten-day shutdown.

The partnership with Jingye Steel, bolstered by a yearly X-Pact service contract for automation support, facilitated “meticulous” modernisation planning for the replacement of obsolete or inoperative components, thereby preventing significant downtime.

Consequently, the upgrade, which took only eight days to complete, was seamlessly integrated into the mill’s yearly maintenance schedule, negating the need for additional shutdowns.

SMS upgraded the X-Pact ProBAS Level 1 automation system, incorporating the latest standards and technologies for the roughing mill, finishing mill and hot plate leveller, substantially improving system reliability and maintenance efficiency.

The new automation system was raised to a “new technological level” with X-Pact Embedded Controllers and a high-speed EtherCAT I/O system for rapid communication and efficient data handling.

This advancement boosted the system’s overall performance and ensured the sustained availability and serviceability of components and technological packages. Moreover, the safety modules were replaced with the latest models to enhance operational safety.

Additionally, the upgrade incorporates a future-oriented open hardware and system platform. This approach means that the platform is not locked into a single vendor or protocol, providing flexibility for future expansion and integration projects.

The open platform adheres to international standards and allows for seamless interaction with a range of hardware and software solutions. This adaptability is crucial for the steel industry, where technological advancements are rapid and continuous.

Jingye Steel plant director Wang Hailong praised the SMS project team, stating that “we were supported in this automation project by an excellent team from the SMS Automation, Digital and Service Solutions unit, who worked diligently and efficiently in such a short time to ensure a successful outcome”.

Designed for a yearly output of 2.3-million tons, the heavy plate mill at Jingye Steel’s extensive product portfolio includes steels for shipbuilding, pipelines, pressure vessels, boilers and high-strength structural applications.

SMS group China automation, digital and service solutions VP Christoph Stappenbeck explains that the company designs and builds plate mills for the “long run”.

“Our goal is to maintain and expand the performance of our customers’ plants throughout their entire lifecycle. By collaborating closely with our customers, we develop integrated solutions tailored to their specific use cases,” states Stappenbeck.

He concludes that, through modernisation and service, the SMS group can ensure that the plants remain up-to-date, enabling plant owners to achieve a broader portfolio and higher production levels.