The new annealing and pickling line forms part of an integrated production complex for the manufacture of non-grain-oriented electrical steels and stands as the largest facility of its kind globally. SMS group supplied the essential production equipment for the APL, including the X-Pact^® electrical and automation systems. The line represents the 12^th silicon steel line supplied by SMS group within the complex and underscores the continuous growth and development of the partnership.

With this new APL, Shougang will expand the production capacity of high-grade non-grain-oriented electrical steel strip with high silicon content at its existing production site in Hebei province by 650,000 tons of hot rolled strip. This end material will be used in rotating electrical devices such as drives and generators, where the improved isotropic magnetic properties are imperative for efficiency and loss reduction. Therefore, the material makes for example electric vehicles more resource saving and environmental friendly.

At the core of the new facility is a specialized approach to the descaling process, driven by advanced turbulence pickling technology. By injecting pickling liquid through spray heads into the channel, a turbulent flow is generated, enhancing pickling efficiency and speeding up processing times. This innovation is pivotal for achieving the goal of expanding production capacity while maintaining stringent quality standards.

The process section features a horizontal arrangement of pickling and rinsing tanks, along with a strip dryer, designed to facilitate effective scale removal, particularly for high silicon steels. The sequential configuration of these tanks allows for adequate scale removal even at high strip speeds.

In addition to operational efficiency, the facility prioritizes ease of operation and maintenance. The circulation system within the pickling section is equipped with a sophisticated silicon sludge removal system, ensuring seamless operation with maximum output and minimal maintenance efforts.

Furthermore, the terminal equipment of the new line, including entry and exit sections with payoff reels, strip threading equipment, tension reels, and belt wrappers, is tailored to the specific requirements of hot rolled electrical steel strip production. Horizontal loop accumulators are integrated before and after the process to ensure continuous speeds in the process section and optimizing production flow.

These features not only enhance efficiency and maintain quality standards but also contribute to the overarching goal of meeting the growing demand for high-grade non-grain-oriented electrical steel strip with high silicon content. Through the integration of these advanced technologies, Shougang not only expands its production capacity but also redefines industry standards and supports sustained growth in electrical steel manufacturing.

The APL team is particularly proud of the fact that this project was completed on time of schedule. Just 16 months after the site construction started, the team achieved the production of the first coil.

The technical project management consisting of Thomas Pfeiffer for sales and Zhang Rongzheng for order handling, expressed satisfaction with the commissioning team: “Great Work! Congratulations to the entire Project Team involved. This very important project milestone has been achieved despite the very ambitious schedule, and the ongoing impact of the global pandemic. Let's continue to do this kind of good work on future projects.”