SMS group to supply cold rolling mill to North American Stainless

SMS group, Hilchenbach, Germany, has announced it will supply a 20-roll cold rolling mill and a bright annealing line to North American Stainless (NAS), U.S.A., a subsidiary of the Spanish Acerinox Group, for installation in its new facility in Ghent, Ky. Commissioning is scheduled for early 2017.

The Monoblock mill MB 22B-54” will process up to 0.24-in.-thick hot strip. Maximum rolling speed is about 0.5 mile/min. Thickness reductions up to 90 percent can be achieved. The machinery will handle austenitic and ferritic grades (AISI 200, 300, and 400 series). The end material will be 23.62 to 53.15 in. wide and 0.006 to 0.06 in. thick.

The bright annealing line will process the cold-rolled strip through a two-stage cleaning section. This will be followed by recrystallization annealing in an oxygen-free, inert atmosphere with a high hydrogen content, creating a reflective strip surface. A four-high skin pass mill will be integrated into the line for post-treatment. The downstream tension leveler will increase strip flatness.