The Spanish company SIDENOR ACEROS ESPECIALES, S.L. has placed an order with SMS group www.sms-group.com for the modernization of its bar mill in Basauri.

The goals of the modernization are to achieve a more effective rolling process and an improvement in material properties. The SMS group scope of supply includes all the mechanical, thermal and electrical components, the automation system and complete erection and commissioning, which is scheduled for September 2017.

The existing reversing three-high stand in today’s semi-continuous mill will be replaced by a six-stand continuous roughing mill with compact stands (CS) in V-H arrangement. In addition, a new crank shear and two further compact stands, also in V-H arrangement, will be installed in front of the existing continuous finishing stands. A further crank shear installed on the delivery side of the bar mill will allow cutting of larger and smaller cross-sections at speeds of up to 10 millimeters per second in the future.

The scope of modernization also includes the supply of a completely new walking-beam furnace of modular design, which allows for a future increase in capacity. The delivery side of the furnace is equipped with a high-pressure water descaling unit. The furnace will also be equipped with the modern SMSPrometheus level-2 automation system, an ideal system for setting the heating parameters in accordance with the wide range of steel grades to be rolled.

Through the use of SMSZeroFlame flameless burners, pollutant emissions into the atmosphere are minimized. Crucial factors for the customer’s decision were the quality benefits of the CS technology, the competence for complex revamping measures and SMS group’s vast experience in the quality and stainless steel sector. This latest reference further underlines SMS group's position as a leading supplier of rolling mills for quality steels in all size ranges.

At the Basauri works, SIDENOR produces round bars in the diameter range of 29 to 110 millimeters in high-grade carbon steels, low and high-alloy quality steels and tool steels, roller bearing steels and stainless grades. The products are used in the automotive industry, in oil and gas and in machine and plant engineering.