Siemens VAI Metals Technologies has received an order from Thai Steel Profile Co Limited of Bangkok to modernize the bar mill installed in their plant in Rayong. The aims of the project are to extend the product range in order to include merchant bars and to further improve productivity. The modernized long product rolling mill is to commence operation in mid 2013.

After the modernization, the Thai Steel Profile Co rolling mill in Rayong will reach an annual capacity of around 400,000 tonnes of long products. In addition to reinforcement steel bars, the plant will be capable of producing a wide range of rods with round and square cross-sections, flats and also angle and channel steels.

To further enhance product quality and to boost the degree of automation, Siemens is modernizing the mill train and also the straight bar and the coiled bar production. The mill train is being equipped with new Red Ring rolling stands. Some of the existing stands are being equipped with new motors, gearboxes and couplings, and loopers are being added to the finishing line.

In the straight bar production, Siemens is installing an inline tempering system as well as a new cooling and finishing zones, including a cooling bed, a cold shear, a multi strand straightener and a fully automatic magnetic stacker for sections. Siemens is to supply the complete mechatronics package for operating the stacker. Coiled bar production is being equipped with two Garrett coilers and is receiving equipment for unloading, transport and compacting of coils. Siemens is also responsible for monitoring the installation and commissioning.