Siemens Equips New Processing Line for BlueScope Indonesia

The processing line will be installed at the Cilegon site and is designed for an annual production of 175,000 metric tons of Zincalume® steel. The order value is in the two-digit million Euro range. The new facility is scheduled to start operating in the spring of 2010.

PT BlueScope is a subsidiary of the Australian company, BlueScope Steel Ltd. In Cilegon, around 100 kilometers to the west of Jakarta, the company operates the only production facility in Indonesia that produces coated and painted steel products. Due to its good experience with its processing line in Thailand, which was also equipped by Siemens, BlueScope chose Siemens technology to equip the new line. As a result of the new equipment, the plant’s annual production capacity will be expanded to 275,000 metric tons per year.

For the integrated galvanizing-painting line, Siemens is engineering and supplying all the mechanical and electrical components as well as the basic and process automation systems. An inline skin pass mill with subsequent tension leveler is also part of the scope of supply. A Siemens roll coater will be used for painting. The layout of the installation will allow rapid production changeovers, which will increase the flexibility of BlueScope when the market demands changes.

The electrical equipment includes the medium-voltage distribution system, all the drives, the basic and process automation systems and parts of the manufacturing execution system (MES) level. The operator control and visualization equipment, which features user-friendly process and plant diagnostic functions, is easy to control and will make a significant contribution to fully automation operation of the lines. Special control functions for strip movement will ensure a stable high production speed and prevent damage to the strip even in critical sections such as the furnaces.

The components, systems and technological controllers used are part of the “Siroll PL” integrated and modular automation solution, which was specially developed for rolling mills and processing lines. Siemens will also perform commissioning and customer training.

Additional information on solutions for steel works, rolling mills and processing lines is available at http://www.siemens.com/metals.

The Siemens Industry Sector (Erlangen, Germany) is the world's leading supplier of production, transportation and building systems. Integrated hardware and software technologies combined with comprehensive industry-specific solutions enable Siemens to enhance the productivity and efficiency of its customers in industry and infrastructure. The Sector comprises six Divisions: Building Technologies, Industry Automation, Industry Solutions, Mobility, Drive Technologies and Osram. In fiscal 2007 (ended September 30), Siemens Industry generated sales of approximately EUR40 billion (pro forma, unconsolidated) with around 209,000 employees worldwide.

With the business activities of Siemens VAI Metal Technologies, (Linz, Austria), Siemens Water Technologies (Warrendale, Pa., U.S.A.), and Industry Technologies, (Erlangen, Germany), the Siemens Industry Solutions Division (Erlangen, Germany) is one of the world's leading solution and service providers for industrial and infrastructure facilities. Using its own products, systems and process technologies, Industry Solutions develops and builds plants for end customers, commissions them and provides support during their entire life cycle.