Benteler group, a leading manufacturer of seamless and welded tubes, has placed an order with SMS group to upgrade its stretch-reducing mill (SRM) in Paderborn-Schloss Neuhaus, Germany, Kallanish notes.
This upgrade ensures long term system availability, improves product quality, and strengthens the plant’s competitiveness, the supplier claims.
This includes updates to crop end control (CEC), wall thickness control (WTC) modules, and the SRM technology system.
According to SMS, the new system runs in a virtualised server environment based on its real time technology.
“This significantly reduces the risk of system failure, eliminates single point hardware dependencies, and safeguards long-term maintainability with an open source operating system and database components,” it adds.
The upgrade also allowed for a redesign of the SRM motor-control strategy. The new approach reduces load peaks on the drives, minimises unnecessary load cycles, improves coordination with the downstream flying saw, and enhances process stability at higher tube speeds.
Earlier, Benteler said it is pursuing further investment at its location in Paderborn-Schloss Neuhaus. The group is lining up approximately €17 million ($20m) for the expansion of tube manufacturing at the plant in Paderborn. It is responding to rising demand for seamless and welded steel tubes, particularly from the automotive industry.
