AIC Brazil has recently revamped both Cosigua and Divinopolis steel plants for Gerdau Group.
These latest projects demonstrate the two companies' strong bond, a truly long-lasting relationship, with multiple projects completed in many of its plants in North and Latin America.
The project for Cosigua intervened on Two stands in Mill 2, replacing DC with AC power supplies and fitting the existing plant with modern motors and ABB's ACS880 Multi drives. That could be considered the first reference inside Gerdau Group with the 4000A AC Low voltage, scaling down energy consumption and enhancing performance. The supply scope expanded the availability of spare parts while also providing engineering and training.
Inversely, the job on Divinópolis has consisted of the automation modernization on the 80 tph pusher-type reheating furnace, raising energy efficiency.
Brand-new ABB PLCs (AC800M-PM866), for combustion and movements, were included in the project's package, fitting with Siemens Simatic WinCC and HMI TP1200 Comfort Panel technology, plus Engineering and Client Stations.
The reduction of heat losses and the increase in productivity that arises from cutting down furnace shutdown time, has been addressed by the software upgrade, which includes new Temperature Control on three-zone, new movement controls (Entry Side, Inside Furnace, Exit Side), and new screens.