Austrian steel producer voestalpine will adapt and expand its existing electrical, drive, and automation systems to rebuild hot-dip galvanizing line No. 4 in Linz, Austria. With this investment, the steel plant will be able to produce steel grades with higher strengths, improved elongation values, and a more comprehensive range of dimensions for the automotive industry.
An Industry Leader
As one of Europe’s leading steel producers, voestalpine supplies high-quality hot- and cold-rolled steel strips and electrolytically galvanized, hot-dip galvanized, organically coated, and electrical steel strips for the automotive, electrical, household appliance, and manufacturing industries. Near Primetals Technologies Austria, voestalpine operates a fully integrated steel plant in Linz, including a coke plant, blast furnace, meltshop, hot and cold rolling mill, and galvanizing and strip coating facilities. The new conversion and modernization project marks another page in the long history between voestalpine and Primetals Technologies, including the continuous improvement of the Simatic PCS7 system at the two hot-dip galvanizing lines, first assembled and equipped in the early 2000s. The new project will rebuild hot-dip galvanizing line No. 4 and modernize the electrical and automation systems for line No. 3, including improved drives, CPUs, the fieldbus system, and safety equipment. Not to mention integration into the PCS7 process control system.
Reducing the CO2 footprint
The primary focus of rebuilding and expanding hot-dip galvanizing line No. 4 is the ability to support the automotive industry in manufacturing safer cars. By producing lighter, stronger steel, voestalpine contributes to reducing the CO2 footprint of automotive vehicles. Primetals Technologies will assemble provided components such as power transformers and inductors and adapt and expand the existing electrical drive and automation systems.
Revitalizing Hot-Dip Galvanizing Line No. 3
The availability of spare parts is running out for aging drive controls and the automation technology of hot-dip galvanizing line No. 3. Thus, Primetals Technologies will modernize and upgrade more than 300 drive feeds, along with various CPU and fieldbus upgrades and the safety system. A part of the process control system, PCS7, the software library “PTLib,” developed by Primetals Technologies, will be used for both plants. PTLib contains numerous function blocks for treatment plants and is continuously maintained, upgraded, and versioned to match the PCS7 versions.
Everything to Plan
The modernization and conversion of the two hot-dip galvanizing lines will occur during planned shutdown periods. As the time frame is only a few days, project execution will require precise preparations and seamless coordination of all those involved. Within reason, any technical problems will and must be identified and avoided.
MORE INFORMATION
Click here to read the full press release, access contact details, and find other press resources.
