Primetals Technologies has secured a contract from Xiangtan Iron and Steel Co, Ltd to upgrade automation systems at its heavy plate mill in Xiangtan, Hunan Province, China. The modernization project is aimed at significantly improving process stability, plate flatness, thickness precision, and overall production consistency through the deployment of advanced automation and process control technologies.
The scope of the project includes a comprehensive upgrade of both hardware and software components within the process automation system, along with the implementation of Primetals Technologies’ advanced Contour and Flatness Optimizer solution. The company will also introduce basic automation controls for newly installed work roll bending systems.
According to Primetals Technologies, the upgraded automation infrastructure will strengthen process control capabilities, particularly during thin-gauge rolling operations, while improving operational reliability and long-term plant performance. The Contour and Flatness Optimizer system uses real-time adaptive process control to continuously adjust rolling parameters during production. This enables the mill to maintain high levels of plate flatness, contour precision, and thickness accuracy across different product grades and rolling conditions.
The integration of advanced work roll bending controls will further improve shape-control flexibility, particularly for challenging thin-gauge applications where maintaining consistent quality is critical. Primetals Technologies stated that replacing outdated automation systems will also help eliminate risks associated with obsolete components and spare-part availability, while simplifying maintenance operations and increasing overall system reliability.
The project reflects the long-standing collaboration between Xiangtan Iron and Steel and Primetals Technologies. Previous modernization projects completed at Xiangtan’s heavy plate facilities have delivered measurable improvements in production efficiency and product quality. A recently completed upgrade of the company’s Multi Purpose Interrupted Cooling (MULPIC) line further strengthened the technical partnership between the two companies.
Founded in 1958, Xiangtan Iron and Steel is one of the core enterprises under the Hunan Valin Group. The company operates one of the world’s largest wide and heavy plate production facilities with an annual output capacity of approximately five million tonnes of wide and heavy steel plates. Its overall steelmaking operations have an annual production capacity of nearly 12 million tonnes, covering the complete manufacturing chain from ironmaking to rolling operations.
Primetals Technologies continues to expand its presence in advanced steel manufacturing technologies, digital automation systems, and intelligent process optimisation solutions for steel producers worldwide. The company said the latest modernization project reinforces its focus on helping steel manufacturers improve efficiency, product quality, and operational sustainability through advanced engineering and automation technologies.