MEERdrive®PLUS usage for enhanced efficiency and unmatched wire rod tolerances
Arlenico, a special quality wire rod producer from Italy, and SMS group have successfully integrated the four-stand MEERdrive®PLUS sizing block into the existing Caleotto wire rod line, allowing for the production of wire rods with significantly tighter tolerances.
Caleotto increases wire rod production with SMS group’s MEERdrive®PLUS, achieving up to 0.05mm tolerances at 115 m/s
Caleotto, a special quality wire rod producer from Italy, and SMS group have successfully integrated the four-stand MEERdrive®PLUS sizing block into the existing Caleotto wire rod line, allowing for the production of wire rods with significantly tighter tolerances. The advanced technologies from SMS, including a water cooling line and level 2 automation system, enable Caleotto to perform thermomechanical rolling.
First performance tests demonstrated the production of wire rod in diameters ranging from 5.5 to 27 millimeters at speeds of up to 115 meters per second and low temperatures of 750 °C. From the initial rolling trials, strict tolerances of 0.05 millimeters and 50 percent ovality were consistently achieved on 5.5-millimeter diameter products.
Caleotto selected SMS group's MEERdrive®PLUS technology for its innovative drive concept, which employs individual low-voltage motors for each stand, thereby enhancing operational efficiency. The technology allows Caleotto to produce wire rods with exceptionally tight tolerances, enabling the company to serve the market with products of much tighter tolerances than ever before.
Plant technology
Caleotto undertook a significant modernization of its existing wire rod line by integrating the MEERdrive®PLUS sizing block. The key feature of this technology is its use of individual low-voltage motors for each stand, which facilitates "one-family rolling." This approach drastically reduces mill downtimes typically required for size and ring changes, thereby enhancing operational efficiency.
Additionally, the modernization included the incorporation of a water cooling line and a level 2 automation system. These features enable thermomechanical rolling, allowing Caleotto to produce wire rods with much tighter tolerances than previously possible. The process also involves a calibration system that is specifically designed for high-grade steel types, utilizing a dedicated water cooling line to ensure optimal performance. This advanced setup allows the production of wire rods with tolerances as low as 0.05 millimeters and 50 percent ovality on 5.5-millimeter diameter products, positioning Caleotto to better meet market demands for high-quality wire rods.
Main data
- Rolling speed (max.): 115 m/s
- wire rod diameters: 5.5 - 27 mm