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A series of modernisations at Acesita's Steckel mill have reduced fuel consumption of the coiling furnaces by 50%, improved temperature control and hence strip quality, increased coil weight to 25t and increased output to over 800kt/y.
Acesita, located at Timòteo, Minas Gerais, Brazil, is South America's only producer of stainless steel flat products. Approximately 820kt/y of austenitic stainless, silicon and carbon-steel grades are rolled on its Steckel mill, which was originally built by VAI (Davy) and started up in 1979. Since that time, Acesita has contracted three consecutive modernisations with VAI: in 1995, 1997 and 2001, comprising, for example, improvements to the HAGC (hydraulic automatic gauge control) system, the automation system as well as the supply of new Steckel coiler furnaces.
This paper outlines the successful cooperation between Acesita and SiemensVAI which serves as an outstanding example of a life-cycle partnership between producer and supplier with mutual benefits for both parties.
ACESITA
Acesita SA is a company within the Arcelor Group. Acesita is the only integrated producer of flat stainless and silicon steels in Latin America and has an annual steel output of approximately 820kt/y comprising mainly austenitic stainless steel grades (AISI 304, 316) and ferritic and martensitic grades (eg 409, 420 and 430). Furthermore, grainoriented and non-grain-oriented silicon steels, as well as low-, medium- and highcarbon steel grades, are also produced. Acesita is the leading steel supplier to Brazil, its home market, accounting for 90% of the market share. Steel products from Acesita are exported to over 50 countries.
The company's plant at Timòteo, Minas Gerais, Brazil is totally integrated, from the production of hot metal to the dispatch of cold-rolled stainless steel coils. Its investments are focused on the production of value-added steel products.
Since the 1960s VAI has received a number of contracts from Acesita for the supply of plant and equipment throughout the entire steel-production route, including the recent installations of a new annealing and pickling line with an in-line skin-pass mill and a new AOD converter. The blast furnace and the combi-caster were also modernised by VAI. In the hot-rolling sector, VAI upgraded the Steckel mill in three successive steps to increase the production capacity and productivity, as well as to improve the quality of the hotrolled strip.
STECKEL...