Benteler Steel/Tube and SMS group have completed the modernization of the stretch-reducing mill (SRM) at the Paderborn-Schloss Neuhaus plant in Germany.
The project involved replacing the legacy CARTA automation system with SMS’s next-generation CARTAneo SRM platform, including upgraded crop end control (CEC) and wall thickness control (WTC) modules.
The upgrade is expected to improve product quality, enhance operational stability and ensure long-term system availability. CARTAneo uses real-time data to deliver tighter tolerances, improved wall thickness accuracy and higher yield.
The new system operates on a virtualized server environment based on SMS’s X-Pact real-time technology, reducing hardware dependency and improving system reliability and maintainability.
The modernization was carried out during a scheduled shutdown, with commissioning completed with minimal disruption to production. The upgrade also included improvements to motor control, reducing load peaks and enhancing process stability at higher operating speeds.
The system is supported by a long-term service package covering remote maintenance, updates and further optimization.
Benteler Steel/Tube GmbH & Co. KG is a leading international manufacturer of seamless and welded quality steel tubes, serving the automotive, energy, and industrial sectors.
