Thyssenkrupp Electrical Steel has awarded SMS group a contract to upgrade the automation system at its four-high CVC cold rolling mill in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. Originally supplied by SMS in 1974, the reversing mill processes grain-oriented silicon steel (GO Si-Steel).
The modernization aims to boost automation, safety, and plant availability through the integration of advanced technologies. The project will be executed in two phases, with completion scheduled for 2027.
The scope includes upgrading the existing X-Pact electrical and automation systems with SMS’s latest technologies, including the X-Pact Embedded controller and high-speed EtherCAT I/O system. New ergonomic control pulpits will replace the old ones, and the IT infrastructure will be virtualized to ensure lifecycle stability and hardware independence.
The solution also includes level 1 and model-based level 2 automation tailored for GO Si-Steel production, along with the X-Pact Vision HMI for enhanced operator guidance.
A master controller will manage the rolling process and coordinate communication across all automation levels, including safety systems, ensuring smooth and efficient operation.
