Wuhan Iron & Steel Co., Ltd. (WISCO), one of China’s leading steel producers operating under China Baowu Steel Group since 2016, has successfully completed the modernization of its high-capacity HSM No. 2 hot strip mill in Wuhan. Following the modernization process, a Final Acceptance Certificate (FAC) was signed between WISCO and SMS group.
The project, carried out as part of SMS group’s lifecycle partnership, aimed to equip the mill with the latest technology and continuously improve production efficiency and product quality.
Originally delivered by SMS group in 2003, the 4.8 million ton-per-year, 2,250-millimeter hot strip mill was upgraded with advanced components, including reheating furnaces, a plate sizing press capable of processing plates 230–250 millimeters thick and 800–2,150 millimeters wide, a two-stand roughing mill, a four-stand roughing mill, and a seven-stand finishing mill. The final products range from 1.2–25.4 millimeters in thickness and 700–2,130 millimeters in width, enabling the mill to produce a wide variety of steel grades.
In this modernization project, SMS group focused on automation improvements, including the replacement and upgrade of the existing X-Pact® Profile, Contour, and Flatness Control (PCFC) system. The PCFC, a physical process model that calculates optimal setpoints for finishing mill actuators such as Continuous Variable Crown (CVC®), work roll bending, and shifting systems, significantly improved strip geometry quality. The PCFC replacement was carried out in shadow mode and completed within four weeks, achieving guaranteed performance targets.
The modernization also included the installation of new CVC® blocks on finishing mills F1–F7. CVC® technology allows axial shifting of rolls with a customized contour and, combined with the PCFC model, enables precise control of roll bending and shifting to enhance profile quality. These innovations provided WISCO with higher strip quality, improved production efficiency, increased operational stability, and tighter product tolerances.
These upgrades build on a series of previous modernizations carried out by SMS group on HSM No. 2 between 2013 and 2024. Key milestones include the renovation of the No. 3 coil handling line in 2013 to improve operational reliability; the addition of CVC® bending and shifting systems to F4 and F7 finishing mills and new shifting-type mills for the R2 roughing mill in 2018; installation of a new finishing mill lime remover in 2019 to enhance surface quality; and in 2024, the addition of new work roll bending and shifting systems on F1–F3 and F5–F6 finishing mills, along with a new X-Pact® PCFC system to improve strip shape and thickness control.
The signing of the FAC confirms that all pre-defined objectives have been achieved and the project is complete. This accomplishment underscores SMS group’s commitment to delivering advanced technologies and tailored solutions that meet the evolving needs of the steel industry. The modernization of HSM No. 2 not only increases the mill’s capacity but also strengthens WISCO’s position as a leading player in the global steel market.
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