CISDI’s patented product, the dual-stand tandem roughing mill, has been put into production for the first time.

The mill is based at Shenglong Metallurgical Co’s 2,250mm hot rolling line, which has an annual production target of 5.50 million tonnes. 

The patent has been awarded for a new type of technology for hot strip roughing rolling, which is greener and produces less carbon. 

The launch at Shenglong is a star first for China’s wide strip low-carbon rolling sector. 

The reversing mill is composed of two stands in tandem. The centre-to-centre distance between rolls is mere eight metres, which means three large passes of rolling can be achieved.

Compared with the conventional model featuring two separate stands, the new mill results in the following advantages (in equivalent production capacity conditions):

ü  The roughing mill area is at least 50 metres shorter

ü  The work-piece stays at the roughing mill area for less time – a reduction of 40 seconds

ü  Work-piece temperature drop is reduced by over 40 deg. C. This results in a lower temperature of slab discharge from the reheating furnace, reducing fuel consumption by 0.05GJ/t per tonne of slab and decreasing loss on ignition (LOI) by more than 0.1 per cent

ü  Improved descaling system – fewer descaling points and over 15 per cent less power consumption.

The creative mill will create savings on the project’s capital and operational costs and improve its competitiveness by enabling the production of temperature-sensitive grades - such as stainless steel, silicon steel and IF steel. 

A lateral view of CISDI’s 2-stand tandem roughing mill, pictured from its operation side

A lateral view of CISDI’s 2-stand tandem roughing mill, pictured from its drive side