STEEL GRIPS online - First "Star-Drive" Blocks for the American continents

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May 10, 2012

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First "Star-Drive" Blocks for the American continents

Jun 8, 2011

V & M STAR, a seamless tube producer in North America, is building a new plant in Youngstown. The construction is being carried out by Danieli Centro Tube, a member of the Italian Danielo-Group, and German Friedrich Kocks will supply its latest-generation Extractor and Stretch Reducing Block.

The hot rolling mill is an integral part of this new tube plant. It is a continuous mill and consists amongst others of an elongator, an extracting block and a stretch reducing block. After its completion, the plant will be capable to produce 450,000 t/a of high quality seamless tubes within a diameter range of 60.3 to 180.0 mm (2.375" - 7.087").

Friedrich Kocks GmbH & Co KG in Hilden, Germany will supply the 3-stand extractor and the 24-stand stretch reducing block, both based on the 3-roll "Star Drive" design featuring separate drives for individually driven rolls. The 3-roll stands are designed for a nominal roll diameter of 360 mm. The extractor will be operated with non-adjustable stands only, whereas the stretch reducer will be equipped with the non-adjustable stands for the reducing passes as well as the adjustable ones for the finishing passes.

Main characteristics of this concept are the in-line remotely controlled pass adjustment for the adjustable stands, the stand quick changing system as well as the roll shop with quick roll changing system. All these aspects significantly reduce the total number of stand changes normally required for optimum production.

Furthermore the scope of supply comprises the process automation systems and the Kocks' Tumiicon-System, which consists of various components. The computer program Tumicon serves as calculator for the pass design and optimum setup values (e.g. motor speed) as well as a management tool for rolls and stands. The TEC-BOX with functions for wall thickness control and for minimization of heavy ends is a highly dynamic open and closed-loop system for quality optimization.

The supply is completed by an inspection system, which visualizes the technological controls as well as the measured values from the rolling mill (wall thickness, heavy ends, etc.).

Commissioning of the new seamless tube plant is scheduled for the first half of 2012.

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