SMS Group to upgrade Yamato Steel’s heavy section mill

Compact cartridge stand (CCS) in SULB’s heavy‑section mill in Bahrain, supplied as part of the greenfield minimill project on which SMS group and Yamato Kogyo collaborated

Yamato Steel Co Ltd has commissioned SMS group to modernise its section mill in Himeji, Japan, in a move that underscores the company’s commitment to enhancing production capabilities and product quality. The project will see the replacement of two existing mill stands with SMS’s compact cartridge stands (CCS), a technology known for its high rigidity and suitability for brownfield revamps.

The modernisation involves upgrading the universal roughing (UR) and edger (E) mill stands with CCS 1000 and CCS 500 E models. These stands are designed to produce a wide range of structural steel products, including H- and I-beams and U-type sheet piles. According to SMS group: “The CCS stands offer high stand rigidity for enhanced product quality”, and their compact design makes them ideal for integration into existing facilities.

The new equipment will feature both universal and two high-rolling modes, hydraulic roll adjustment, and quick automatic-change capabilities. SMS will also supply new work roller tables equipped with flange cooling and high-pressure descaling units. Central to the upgrade is the CCS tandem rolling mill control system (TCS), which provides real-time process control, dynamic automatic gap control (AGC), and automatic roll gap setting following programme changes. SMS states that the TCS system is engineered to “optimise operational efficiency, improve product quality, and minimise downtimes”.

Completion of the modernisation is scheduled for the summer of 2028. SMS group will deliver the full scope of supply, including engineering, core equipment, automation systems, technical assistance, spare parts, and change parts, ensuring seamless integration into Yamato Steel’s existing process and automation infrastructure.

This latest collaboration between the two companies builds on a longstanding relationship. Yamato Kogyo, a shareholder in Yamato Steel, has previously partnered with SMS group on several international projects, including upgrades at Nucor Yamato Steel in the USA, the construction of a greenfield minimill for heavy sections for SULB Company in Bahrain, and a minimill for medium sections for Siam Yamato in Thailand.