Dillinger France has awarded SMS group an order to upgrade the cold plate leveler at its heavy plate mill in Dunkirk, France, with the latest generation of X-Pact Plate Leveler Control. The modernization will replace the process model installed in 1999 while retaining the existing mechanical equipment.
The upgraded control system is designed to improve plate flatness and residual stress removal, particularly for advanced high-strength steel grades. Optimized calculations for roll position, bending forces and torque distribution will enable higher over-stretching rates and expand the leveler’s operating range without requiring roll changes.
The upgrade will also introduce an integrated 9/5-roll mode, providing greater operational flexibility across different steel grades. The new process model will initially run in shadow mode to validate its performance against the existing production process before commissioning.
The project is scheduled for completion by December 2027.
Dillinger France produces more than 600,000 tons of heavy plate annually for applications including offshore wind energy, line pipe, mechanical engineering and boiler construction.