SMS completes automation system upgrade for PT Krakatau Steel

SMS Group has successfully completed the modernization of the automation system for hot strip mill no. 1 at PT Krakatau Steel (Persero), Tbk. (PTKS) in Cilegon, Indonesia. The project marks a significant milestone with the production of the first sellable coil, signaling PTKS’s return to the market after an extended production stoppage.

The initiative was part of PTKS’s broader recovery strategy, aimed at upgrading the electrical and automation systems of the hot strip mill. Instead of replacing only the damaged automation components in the finishing mill, PTKS opted for a comprehensive upgrade across the entire mill, integrating next-generation automation technology. The existing DC drives used for components such as the slab sizing press, roughing mill, and down coiler were retained, ensuring compatibility between new automation systems and legacy drive technology.

The upgrade incorporates SMS Group’s X-Pact® process automation control technology, which enhances operational control, diagnostic capabilities, and overall mill performance. The integration of SMS’s level 1 and level 2 automation systems into the X-Pact® ProBAS platform ensures improved connectivity and open interfaces. Additionally, the introduction of Sinamics DC drives with Simotion-based drive control software enhances production efficiency and quality standards.

The scope of the upgrade includes technological process models such as the X-Pact® Pass Schedule Calculation (PSC®) model for roughing and finishing stands, and the X-Pact® Cooling Section Control model for automatic strip cooling. The X-Pact® Profile, Contour, and Flatness process model ensures a stable rolling process, maintaining precise strip thickness and flatness tolerances to enable the production of high-quality steel products.

Utomo Nugroho, Director of Infrastructure and Operation at PTKS, praised the collaboration with SMS Group, stating, “SMS Group acted as a true partner throughout the project. We are pleased to have achieved our goal of restarting the plant within 2024. The challenge of integrating a new automation system with existing machinery was significant, but the teamwork and expertise of SMS Group made it possible.”

The partnership between PTKS and SMS Group dates back to the 1980s, with SMS supplying the original mill and later contributing to the establishment of hot strip mill no. 2 in 2016/17. Atanu Dey, Senior Vice President at SMS Group, emphasized the strategic importance of the upgrade, noting, “This system has all the features of a modern hot strip mill. Rather than implementing only the necessary repairs, we took a forward-looking approach to equip PTKS with a future-ready automation system. The strong collaboration and determination of the joint team were key to the project’s success.”

Source and Photo: SMS Group