AIC Team successfully commissioned the complete automation system for the rougher stand in GERDAU Manitoba Rolling Mill n°4.
The intervention focused on roughing mill automation using a new Allen Bradley ControlLogix PLC to achieve a fully automatic cycle, as well as adding main control desks for the rougher pulpit (Fig. 1); the rougher stand, previously manually operated from operator now is running fully automatically without any human intervention.
As part of the solution, strategical PLC panels and AC & DC drive panels (Fig.2) have been included, HMI system added to the AIC previously installed Rolling mill control system in 2019 makes possible to control and command the area from everywhere within the production site thanks to the use of Thin clients around the plant. Completed the package all the software for auxiliaries’ machines from the Reheating Furnace exit side till the continuous mill entry side, continuous mill was previously commissioned by AIC in 2019.
In fact, this order follows the significant mill automation revamping carried out at the same site in 2019 and highlights the strength of collaboration between AIC and GERDAU Group.
The commissioning was finished on before scheduled and within the allotted time frame in just ten days outage this Summer.
The production has been operating at maximum capacity since the first day.
