On August 25, German plantmaker SMS Siemag AG, a company of the holding SMS GmbH, announced that one of its Italian subsidiaries, Milan-based SMS Innse S.p.A., received an order in April this year from Inner Mongolia, China-based steel company Baotou Steel International Economic & Trading Co. Ltd for the supply of a new 460 mm PQF® (Premium Quality Finishing) seamless tube plant.
According to a statement released by the giant plantmaker, the scope of supply in the order in question comprises the design and manufacture as well as erection and commissioning supervision of the main mills of the tube rolling line, i.e., of the cone-type piercer, PQF®, extractor and sizing mill.
For this seamless tube plant, SMS Innse is working in collaboration with SMS Meer, Germany, which is the center of competence for tube plants within the SMS group, and will supply the cone-type piercer and sizing mill areas.
SMS Innse will supply the PQF® area, the CARTA® (Computer Aided Rolling Technology Application) automation control, as well as the level-2 automation system, e.g. for the order-specific process data for the PQF®.
The new plant, expected to have an annual production capacity of 620,000 mt, will produce tubes with a diameter range of 244.5 to 457.0 mm, while its steel grade range will include carbon and stainless steels.
The first pipes at the new plant will be produced within 21 months, according to the SMS statement.
The financial details of the order have not been disclosed.