Primetals Technologies’ Modernization of Slab Sizing Press to Boost Reliability for Salzgitter Flachstahl

• Primetals Technologies to upgrade power and electrical system at slab sizing press with new cycloconverter and low-voltage AC drives
• Modernization will ensure increased availability and future-proofed supply of spare parts
• Implementation scheduled for December 2024

Salzgitter Flachstahl, a subsidiary of the Salzgitter Group, has recently tasked Primetals Technologies with a comprehensive upgrade of its power and electrical system for the slab sizing press in its hot-rolling mill in Salzgitter, Germany. Primetals Technologies won this order following the completion of a successful crop-shear project at the same mill.

Increased Availability

The slab sizing press was designed to reduce pre-heated slabs in width, by up to 350 millimeters. The equipment's drive technology is divided into two groups: the main drive, fed by a direct converter, and the supporting drivers, provided via DC-link converters featuring a common DC-link. This project will renew the converter technology for all the drives in both groups, and is aimed at increasing the availability of the production line while ensuring secured spare-part supply conditions for the power and electrical system.

The scope of supply encompasses a new cycloconverter for the main motor of the press, new low-voltage multi-drive DC-link converters for the pinch rolls and for gap adjustment, as well as implementation and startup services. The replacement of the drive systems will take place during planned standstill periods.

A Strong and Long-Lasting Partnership

Primetals Technologies and Salzgitter Flachstahl have collaborated on numerous projects over the last few decades, all the while building a strong and dependable relationship. As an example, Primetals Technologies recently improved the LD converter (BOF) process by executing a Level 2 automation upgrade, resulting in an optimization of lime quantities and an increased number of successful heats. Salzgitter Flachstahl is the largest subsidiary of the Salzgitter Group and produces hot-rolled strip, hot-rolled sheet, cold-rolled sheet, and surface-finished products at thicknesses from 0,4 to 25 millimeters and widths of up to 2,000 millimeters.