Tata Steel and SMS group roll first coil after major CSP® plant upgrade

Tata Steel Ltd. has successfully produced the first coils at its Jamshedpur CSP® (Compact Strip Production) plant in India following a comprehensive modernization project carried out by SMS group.

The upgrade marks another milestone in the long-standing lifecycle partnership between the two companies and significantly expands the technical capabilities of the facility.

After the revamp, the CSP® plant is now able to roll thinner strip gauges down to one millimeter while achieving improved dimensional accuracy and flatness quality. Throughput has also increased, enabling more efficient production of demanding steel grades.

A key element of the project was the integration of a new F7 finishing stand into the existing mill configuration. In addition, SMS completed a full renewal of the X-Pact® level 1 and level 2 automation systems, including new hardware, software, and updated human-machine interfaces.

The original CSP® line was delivered and commissioned by SMS in 2011 and has an annual capacity of around 2.5 million tonnes. It produces hot-rolled strip in widths from 900 to 1,680 millimeters and in thicknesses ranging from 16 millimeters down to one millimeter.

With the new F7 stand, Tata Steel can now optimize rolling load distribution, particularly for harder materials, wider widths, and thinner gauges. The additional stand also removes previous bottlenecks in the finishing mill and allows the casters to operate at an optimized thickness, improving overall plant efficiency.

The modernization also included enhancements to stands F1 to F5, where a new hydraulically operated pass-line adjustment system was installed. Five laminar cooling sections were replaced with four reinforced cooling units featuring edge masking, and the entire exit area was upgraded with a new measuring house. Space was also reserved for the future installation of a second multifunction gauge.

Among the mechanical improvements, SMS incorporated SIEFLEX® gear-type spindles with internal oil return lines. These components are designed to transmit up to twice as much torque as conventional shafts while ensuring continuous lubrication and cooling. The technology reduces maintenance requirements and extends equipment service life.

On the automation side, the upgraded X-Pact® ProBAS platform now provides high-speed control and advanced process models. Systems such as the X-Pact® Pass Schedule Calculation (PSC®), Cooling Section Control, and Profile, Contour, and Flatness models enable precise rolling schedules, consistent material temperatures, and tighter tolerances.

The ramp-up of the modernized line was notably smooth. From the first day after restart, 14 coils were rolled without any cobbles, and by the sixth day the mill was already producing material down to 1.2 millimeters.

“Thanks to the excellent cooperation between Tata Steel and SMS group,” said Hendrik Trimborn, Project Manager at SMS, “this complex revamp project was a success.” He added that “the open and trusting communication made it possible to identify challenges early on and to find solutions together,” noting that the “very short and effective ramp-up phase exceeded the expectations of all parties involved.”

Source and Photo: SMS Group