ArcelorMittal Calvert has awarded SMS group a contract to modernize its 2,050 mm hot strip mill (HSM) in Calvert, Alabama, originally supplied by SMS in 2010. The upgrade aims to enable production of advanced steel grades while improving rolling efficiency.
The project centers on the installation of a new Elotherm inductive heating system, equipped with heat insulation hoods and designed to homogenize transfer bar temperatures with high precision. The system will combine longitudinal and transversal flux inductors, four LF and two TF units, each with a nominal output of 4.8 MW, ensuring efficient heating and optimized downstream processing. The retractable design will also improve maintenance and production flexibility.
SMS will deliver the complete package, including automation integration, roller tables, guiding systems, and wiper roll units. Ongoing automation hardware upgrades are scheduled through 2027, with hot commissioning of the new system planned for November 2026.
