Siemens VAI Metals Technologies has received an order from Diaco, the Colombian branch of the Brazilian Gerdau Company, to bring two bar mills at its Tuta and Tocancipa locations up to the state of the art. The modernized rolling mills are scheduled to come into operation at the end of 2012, and will be designed to produce rebars in different diameters.

Siemens will supply mechanical equipment and the fluid system for Diaco's bar mill in Tuta, Boyaca Province. The roughing mill will be equipped with a new billet feeder and a new pinch roll. The remainder of the rolling line will be completely renovated, and equipped with eleven Red Ring rolling stands. Three new stand motors will also be supplied.

In the Tocancipa works in Cundinamarca Province, the rolling mill will be equipped with new main drive for the rougher and mechanical equipment such as gears, drive spindles, loop formers and shears. In the cooling section, Siemens will install a new cooling bed and shears for the hot and cold cutting, including the associated electrical equipment and basic automation. Mechatronics packages for shearing and optimized cutting round off the scope of supply.

Siemens is responsible for supervising the installation and commissioning of both projects.