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In February 2012, Siemens VAI Metals Technologies completed the modernization and upgrade of Coiler 3 in the hot-rolling mill of Tata Steel in IJmuiden, Netherlands. The aim of this project was to produce state-of-the-art high-strength steel qualities. The power of the drive system and coiler motors was increased, and state-of-the-art technology was integrated into the existing automation systems. After thorough testing of all systems during production, the first strip was coiled on 8 February in end-customer quality. The entire Coiler 3 installation has been operating at very high quality and availability levels ever since.

The multi-discipline upgrade and modernization project of Coiler 3 at Tata Steel at the IJmuiden site was executed by Siemens in The Netherlands as general contractor in the very short period of only nine months. The final switchover was executed without any delay in parallel with several separate mechanical changes within the annual 100-hour mill maintenance downtime.

At its site in IJmuiden, Tata Steel operates a hot-rolled strip mill with an annual production capacity of 5 million tons with thicknesses ranging between 1.47 and 25 millimeters. Siemens supplied the complete drive and motor system for the modernization of Coiler 3. The project included the supply of the motors and drive electronics, as well as their integration into the existing Siroll HM Siemens automation system. The components include a synchronous drive for the coiler boom, induction drives, and DC link converters based on Sinamics S120. Simatic TDC is the basis for the expanded automation system and Simatic WinCC will be used for the human-machine interface. Siemens is also responsible for the basic and detailed engineering, installation and commissioning of the new drive system.

The torque of the coiler was increased by up to 20% with the help of the new drive system so that the hot strip mill can handle higher-strength steel grades that require higher bending torques during winding. The automation and drive technologies used are an integral part of the Siroll HM solution platform that has been specially developed for hot-rolling mills.

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