SMS group’s automation ensures flexible production capabilities and stable industrial‑scale performance
The world’s first integrated line combining a compact strip production (CSP®) and a hot strip mill (HSM), significantly enhanced JISCO’s operational flexibility, broadened its portfolio with higher value steel grades, and increased annual capacity from 2 million to 4,5 million tons. SMS group supplied the full automation scope for the line, enabling a rapid switchover between production routes and ensuring a fast ramp-up and stable performance from the very first coil.
To ensure full production flexibility in this new setup, SMS covered the entire automation landscape, including a comprehensive revamp of CSP® level 1 and level 2 systems and new automation for the hot strip mill, all unified by X-Pact® process models and the X-Pact® Vision HMI.
The system automatically adjusts to different slab sources - either from the tunnel furnace or the reheating furnaces - ensuring metallurgical consistency and smooth transitions between process modes.
To enable the combined production concept, the tunnel furnace’s swiveling car was converted into a shifting car for transferring slabs to the finishing mill, backed up by redesigned shifting roller tables. The upgraded line now includes a roller hearth tunnel furnace, two walking beam reheating furnaces, high-pressure descaling box, slab sizing press, two sets of four high reversible roughing stands with vertical edgers, crop shear, six-stand finishing mill, laminar cooling unit, three downcoilers, and a fully automated coil transport system.
The modular prefabrication and staged installation allowed the HSM line to be built without interrupting CSP® operations, safeguarding production and revenue throughout the upgrade phase.
The achievement builds on a 20‑year partnership between SMS and JISCO, rooted in mutual trust and continuous technological innovation.
We now have the flexibility to align products and processes with customer needs in real time, backed by stable, repeatable quality from day one. SMS group’s automation technology and disciplined project execution were essential to meeting our schedule and performance targets.
