Aleris-Zhenjiang contracted Primetals Technologies to supply a new aluminum plate mill to be installed in the town of Zhenjiang in Jiangsu Province, China. This forms part of a major investment that will establish Aleris as the first Asia-Pacific producer of aerospace-grade aluminum plate products.
Challenge
Forming part of a major investment, the single stand plate mill was designed to produce 250,000 tons per annum of heat-treated and non-heat-treated sheets and plates in widths up to 3.8 meters. The mill is able to process aluminum ingots weighing up to 22 tons and produce rolled product with final thickness of between 6 to 250 millimetres. The finished product is used by the aerospace industry, mechanical engineering, tool and mold making, as well as in the petrochemical and transport industries.
Rolling process
Solution
Primetals Technologies supplied the complete mechanical and electrical equipment for the four-high rolling stand, as well as a hydraulic shear and roller tables for the new rolling mill. The equipment includes a number of special design features specifically focused on meeting the demanding requirements for high-quality aluminum plate production.
The order also included the supply of a state-of-the-art electrical and technological process control system. Primetals Technologies maximized the supply of equipment from the Chinese market to meet the challenging cost and timescales for the project.
- Plate width: 1,070 to 3,800 mm
- Plate length: 2,000 to 24,000 mm
Four-high rolling stand
Results
Technical Parameters
Plate Mill
- Work roll: 1,175/1,100 mm x 4,100 mm
- Back-up roll: 1,750/1,600 mm x 4,100 mm
- Load: 60,000 kN
- Bending: +3,500 kN / chock
- Speed: 0/108/270 m/min
- Power: 2 x 7,000 kW
Down-Cut Hydraulic Shear
- Blade load: 12,000 kN
- Blade rake: 1 in 22
- Maximum width: 3,900 mm
Product Data
- Material: 1xxx, 2xxx, 3xxx, 4xxx, 5xxx, 6xxx, 7xxx, 8xxx
- Plate thickness: 6–250 mm
Aleris-Zhenjiang aluminium hot rolling mill
Benefits
Ability to produce 250,000 tonnes of heat-treated and non-heat-treated sheets per annum for demanding end-use sectors
- Plant successfully achieved Nadcap accreditation
- Production of plates in widths up to 3.8 meters
- Plant fully qualified to supply Boeing, Airbus, Bombardier, and COMAC
Conclusion
Just over 12 months from when the first plate was rolled, the Zhenjiang plant achieved Nadcap accreditation.
- This was critical in moving to the final stages of qualification with major aircraft manufacturers.
- The plant is now fully qualified to supply Boeing, Airbus, Bombardier, and COMAC, making it one of the first facilities in the Asia Pacific region qualified to produce aluminum plate for major global aircraft manufacturers.
