CELSA Barcelona has completed the modernization of its medium section mill at the Castellbisbal plant in Spain in partnership with SMS group, enhancing the facility’s rolling capacity, automation systems, and operational efficiency.
The project involved replacing one of the original first-generation CCS (Compact Cartridge Stand) mill stands in the tandem rolling group with SMS’s latest-generation CCS stand, designed to deliver higher rolling forces and improved performance. The upgrade also included new electrical and automation systems equipped with advanced control functions.
The revamp was executed within 12 months from contract award to installation and was carried out during the plant’s scheduled annual maintenance shutdown. Prior to delivery, the new CCS stand was fully assembled and tested at SMS’s workshop to ensure seamless integration into the rolling mill.
As part of the modernization, the technological control system (TCS) was upgraded from the legacy VME platform to a PC-based Probas system. A complete migration to a Profinet network has created a unified hardware and software environment with high-speed communication while reducing cabling requirements by around 90 percent. The new TCS includes enhanced calibration, improved rolling accuracy, greater process stability, and advanced maintenance support.
Hot commissioning was completed two days ahead of schedule, with the first beam produced within target tolerances. A successful 700-ton rolling campaign followed during the first night shift, allowing normal production to resume the next day.
Commissioned by SMS in 2001, the Castellbisbal medium section mill produces beams, angles, and channels for the construction sector. Through a series of upgrades over the years, annual capacity has increased from 500,000 tons to approximately one mln tons.