- Modernization of the basic automation systems for processing line KGL 1 (continuous annealing line)
- Operational safety, plant availability and personal safety will be increased
- Follow-up order to the partial modernization implemented by Primetals Technologies in 2018
In September 2020, the Steel Division of voestalpine, an international steel and technology corporation, awarded Primetals Technologies an order to modernize the basic automation systems of the continuous annealing line 1 (KGL1) in the Linz plant in Austria. The replacement of the now obsolete systems will improve the operational safety and availability of the annealing plant as well as increase personal safety. All the sequence controllers will be modernized, and the KGL1 safety concept will be implemented. The project processing is especially challenging because work can only be executed during the ten- to twelve-day plant shutdowns which only take place about every six months.
Modernization of the automation of continuous annealing line 1
The order voestalpine Stahl GmbH awarded to Primetals Technologies in September 2020 to modernize the basic automation systems comprises the replacement of the sequence controllers. In future, the signals will be interconnected via decentralized I/O-systems, which are linked to the automation system by a fieldbus. The existing sensors and actuators will be linked into the newly supplied control cabinets. Some of the local control desks will also be modernized and the central I/O modules of the automation system will be replaced by new decentralized hardware. The aims of the modernization are to improve operational safety and plant availability and increase personal safety in compliance with the machine safety regulation.
The order also includes essential adaptations of the visualization system, modernization of all motor feeders for the fixed-speed drives and power supplies(MCCs), as well as the application of a new safety concept throughout the entire plant, the supply of the door locks and release consoles, and implementation of the safety functions in the existing safety PLC. The scope of services covers the hardware and software engineering, the technical documentation, the manufacturing of the cabinets for the automation and MCC (motor control center), disassembly and erection, commissioning, on-call service, performance and availability tests.
One particular challenge lies in the step-by-step modernization which has to take place during the ten- to twelve-day plant shutdowns which only take place about every six-months.
First modernization phase executed in 2018
Primetals Technologies had previously received an order from voestalpine Stahl GmbH in 2018 to equip all speed-controlled drives with modern drive technology, and bring the software and hardware automation systems for the cleaning section and annealing furnace up to the state-of-the-art. The order also included the implementation of a state-of-the-art safety PLC and some technological expansions and improvements at the furnace section. The newly awarded follow-up order involves modernizing the remaining basic automation systems and implementing the safety concept. The new project can also use the empirical values gained during many years of cooperation between voestalpine Stahl GmbH and Primetals Technologies.
voestalpine Stahl GmbH is the leading company in the Steel Division, the largest of the four voestalpine divisions, and is one of the leading steel producers in Europe. It supplies high-quality hot and cold-rolled, and electrolytically galvanized, hot-dip galvanized and organically coated steel strips and electric strips for the automotive, electrical, domestic appliance and manufacturing industries. voestalpine Stahl GmbH runs a fully integrated iron and steel works in Linz, Austria, with all process stages at one location: coking plant, steel works, hot and cold rolling mill, galvanizing and strip coating. The continuous annealing line 1 (KGL1) at the Linz plant produces annealed steel strip which meets the highest quality and material demands.
The new automation from Primetals Technologies will improve operational safety, plant availability and personal safety on the continuous annealing line 1. (Image courtesy voestalpine)
プライメタルズ テクノロジーズ （Primetals Technologies）, は本社を英国、ロンドンに置き、金属鉄鋼産業におけるエンジニアリング、プラント建設、およびライフサイクルサービスの提供を行うパイオニアかつ世界的リーダーです。 当社は電機、オートメーション、デジタライゼーション、及び環境の総合ソリューションを含めた技術、製品、サービスの一式を提供しており、 原材料から完成品まで鉄鋼のあらゆる分野を網羅するだけでなく、非鉄分野でも最新の圧延ソリューションをお届けします。 当社は三菱重工グループ100％出資によるグループ会社で、従業員数は全世界で約7,000人です。 詳しくは、下記URLより当社公式ウェブサイトをご覧ください。www.primetals.com.
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