Boosts control speed and operational efficiency
AM/NS Calvert has commissioned SMS group to upgrade the automation control system of its seven-stand high-capacity hot strip mill in Calvert, Alabama, USA. The phased project, scheduled from 2025 to 2027, will modernize the mill’s automation with advanced controllers, a new software platform, and latest network technology. The upgrade is intended to improve data communication, increase control speed, optimize diagnostics, and prepare the plant for future digitalization.
The aim of the project is to bring the automation technology up to the state of the art and increase the operational efficiency of the hot strip mill. The upgrade centers on the implementation of X-Pact® Embedded controllers and the X-Pact® ProBAS software platform to provide modern high-speed control across the hot strip mill. SMS group will also integrate an EtherCAT real-time Ethernet network for high-speed technological sensors and a Profibus remote I/O system for standard sensors, creating a robust architecture for reliable real-time data exchange. This combination is designed to support more responsive automation, improved troubleshooting, and seamless plant operations in a demanding production environment. The upgrade continues the longstanding cooperation between AM/NS Calvert and SMS group and guarantees digital readiness of a mill with an annual capacity of 5.3 million tons that supplies flat carbon steel for automotive, construction, pipe and tube, service centers, and appliance/HVAC applications.
As a lifecycle partner of AM/NS, we are committed to ensure a reliable automation solution that not only addresses immediate technological needs of the hot strip mill but also sets a foundation for future operational improvements. Only through trustful cooperation and a lifecycle approach to plant automation, can such a high-capacity hot strip mill produce high-quality products that meet the evolving requirements of the market.
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