Stahlwerk Thüringen GmbH, a company of Brazilian Grupo CSN, has awarded SMS group the order to supply a new CCS® (Compact Cartridge Stand) universal stand U1 for its section mill in Unterwellenborn, Germany.

The new CCS® stand is to replace the existing U1 stand in operation since 2002 as breakdown stand for the three-stand CCS® tandem group. This upgrade has become necessary as a result of the continuously growing range of sections produced, especially to include increasingly heavier and larger section sizes.

The new stand will be designed for a nominal rolling force of 6,000 kN horizontal and 4,000 kN vertical (maximal 9,400 kN and 6,800 kN respectively). It will come with stronger roll guides and optimized roll cooling.

The scope of the modernization also comprises the new supply of the Technological Control System (TCS) for the complete CCS® tandem group and adaptation of existing control systems. The TCS will be based on SMS group’s proven X-Pact® automation system. In addition to the upgrade of the hardware and the system software, the I/O level for the U1 will be newly set up. Last but not least, all screwdown systems will be controlled by a newly developed dynamic optimization system, which will directly result in optimized reversing times and higher productivity of the tandem group as a whole.