Following an extensive upgrade programme carried out by
SMS group,
Tata Steel Ltd. has produced the first coils on the modernised CSP (TSCR) plant at Jamshedpur in Jharkhand, India.
The work centred on the installation of a new F7 finishing stand and a wide-ranging renewal of the mill’s established X‑Pact® automation systems, including full hardware and software replacement. Thanks to these improvements, the plant is now able to roll thinner gauges while delivering enhanced product quality, further reflecting SMS group’s commitment to lifecycle support for its equipment.
The CSP plant was originally supplied and commissioned by SMS in 2011 and has an annual output of around 2.5 million tonnes. It produces strip in widths ranging from 900 to 1,680mm and thicknesses from 16mm down to 1mm. As part of the revamp, SMS adapted the existing roll‑changing equipment to work with the additional stand. The introduction of F7 allows rolling load distribution to be optimised, particularly when processing harder grades at wider widths and thinner gauges. By reducing bottlenecks in the finishing mill, the new stand increases output for certain products and enables the CSP casters to operate at a casting thickness that delivers improved overall efficiency.
Modernisation work also targeted the earlier mill stands, with a hydraulically operated pass-line adjustment system installed at F1 through F5. Five laminar cooling sections were replaced with four strengthened cooling units equipped with edge masking, and the entire exit area of the mill underwent an upgrade, including a new measuring house and provision for a future second multi-function gauge. Additional technical improvements included the installation of SIEFLEX gear-type spindles with internal oil return.
These spindles can transmit up to twice the torque of conventional shafts, supported by advanced hardening processes, optimised gear geometry and a proprietary tribological system. A continuous oil lubrication circuit improves cooling, removes the need for grease maintenance, extends service life and reduces downtime for the rolling mill.
A major element of the project was the upgrade of SMS’s level 1 and level 2 automation systems, implemented on the X‑Pact ProBAS platform with Embedded controllers, accompanied by a new Human Machine Interface. These updates provide high-speed, highly reliable control for the rolling process. The level 2 system now incorporates advanced process models designed to raise both efficiency and product quality. The X‑Pact® Pass Schedule Calculation (PSC) model supports precise rolling schedule generation to ensure smooth, synchronised production.
High‑grade stripThe X‑Pact Cooling Section Control model delivers fully automated, tightly controlled cooling to maintain consistent material temperatures—essential for achieving the required mechanical properties. Meanwhile, the X‑Pact Profile, Contour and Flatness model maintains strict thickness and flatness tolerances, allowing the mill to produce a wide range of high‑grade strip with improved process stability.
From the first day after the revamp, 14 coils were rolled with no cobbles, and by the sixth day the mill was successfully processing material down to 1.2 mm thickness. Despite the complexity of the shutdown, these early results demonstrate the strength of the preparatory work and comprehensive pre‑commissioning routines.
Hendrik Trimborn, project manager at SMS, said: “Thanks to the excellent cooperation between Tata Steel and SMS group during the execution phase and especially during the shutdown and ramp up, in which several team members from the original commissioning also participated and thus reinforced our partnership approach with our customers, this complex project was a success. The open and trusting communication made it possible to identify challenges early on and to find solutions together. This very short and effective ramp-up phase exceeded the expectations of all parties involved, which impressively underlines the value of this strong partnership.”
The integration of the F7 stand together with the latest X‑Pact automation technology underscores SMS group’s long-term commitment to supporting customers throughout the full lifecycle of their equipment. The involvement of team members from the original commissioning further demonstrated the close partnership between SMS and Tata Steel.