CELSA Barcelona places order with SMS group for modernization of medium-section mill

CELSA Barcelona has contracted SMS group to revamp the section mill at its Castellbisbal location in Spain.

Since 2000, CELSA Barcelona has been producing I and H beams on a medium-section mill supplied by SMS group. The mill was originally designed for an annual production of 500.000 tons. SMS group first expanded the initial range of products rollable on the mill during a revamp in 2007. Continuous plant optimization in cooperation with SMS group has raised the mill’s annual capacity to 1 million tons since then.

The recent contract for SMS group now covers the replacement of the existing cooling bed with a new, higher-capacity one and the upgrade of the CRS® (Compact Roller Straightener), making it capable of straightening heavier products. These measures will require adjustments to and upgrades of the existing electrical and automation systems, all of which will be performed by SMS group.

The new cooling bed will come with an aerosol cooling system that will boost the cooling efficiency and, consequently, the mill’s productivity. Another special feature of the new cooling bed will be a turning device designed to turn I and H beams through 90 degrees into or out of the upright position. This device will further increase the through-put rate of these products. The planned revamp will enable CELSA Barcelona to add HEA y HEB de 600 to its portfolio and further enhance its production efficiency.

Before placing this modernization order, CELSA Barcelona contracted SMS group with a study to determine the investment amount to add the new product sizes and SMS Concast with the order to add a further strand to the continuous casting machine that would enable the casting of heavier beam blanks for the larger cross-sections to be rolled in the future. That project was completed at the end of 2019.

The work on the straightening machine is planned to be performed during the 2020 summer break. The new cooling bed will be installed and commissioned during the summer shutdown of 2021. The upcoming project continues the longstanding and successful cooperation between the two companies.

CELSA Group operates various steel production facilities. At Castellbisbal, in the province of Barcelona, Spain, CELSA has been active since 1967. The facilities today comprise an EAF meltshop, a bar rolling mill, a wire rod mill and a medium-section mill. Annual production totals 2.4 million tons.

Source and photo: SMS group