Bhushan Steel Ltd has engaged Siemens to supply the electrical and automation equipment for the expansion of its existing hot strip mill in Meramandali in Odisha. A second roughing stand, an additional finishing stand and a third coiler will be installed during the course of extensive modernization.

Siemens is also supplying the drives together with the basic and process automation for the new stands and coiler and will integrate them into the existing environment.

A user friendly operator control and visualization system with integrated process and plant diagnostic functions will make it easier to operate the plant, and ensure that malfunctions are detected quickly. That will provide the basis for high plant availability. Siemens is also responsible for the design and configuration of the equipment.

The equipment is scheduled to be supplied in 2012.

The objects of the project are to increase the production capacity and widen the range of products. This will enable Bhushan Steel not only to add thinner strips to its range of products, but also to increase its output.

The rolling mill will produce hot strip in thicknesses ranging from 1.2mm to 25.4mm and up to a width of 1 680mm. The production capacity of the plant will increase from 4 million tonne to 5.5 million tonnes per annum.

The hot strip mill came into production in the spring of 2010. It is already equipped with a Siemens drive and automation solution, including technological control systems and process models for strip dimensions and temperatures.

After the plant expansion has been completed, Bhushan will possess an enhanced integrated solution based on the Siroll HM automation concept, which has been specifically developed for hot strip mills.