News
10 December 2025
A project of POMINI Long Rolling Mills for Acciaierie Valbruna in Bolzano (Italy)
POMINI Long Rolling Mills has received an order from Acciaierie Valbruna for the modernization of the reversing Sack stand in the Blooming train of rolling mill No. 1, located at the Bolzano (Italy) plant.
The overall goal of the project is to automate the rolling process, which is currently carried out manually by operators, and this will be achieved through several important modifications.
The positioning of the upper roll will be made precise and repeatable through the independent adjustment of the main screws with electric motors and the introduction of balancing cylinders, while two safety hydraulic capsules will activate in case of overload (emergency roll opening or unjamming function).
To ensure the precise positioning of the bar according to the rolling channel, a new bar handling system will be installed with independent side rams, and electromechanical bar turners.
The installation of rolling rolls with diameter larger than presently used will improve the entry angle and increase the reductions, thus reducing the number of passes and improving the microstructure of the rolled stock. Both rolls will feature new-generation chocks and bearings, which, in addition to increasing the rigidity and load capacity of the stand, will extend their lifespan and speed up the change process, further simplified by the new roll extraction system.
The new roller tables entering and exiting the stand will be equipped with independent gearmotors, in order to precisely follow the speed of the rolling rolls, especially during acceleration and deceleration phases, and to accurately position the rolling stock, thus optimizing the production cycle. New gearmotors will also be installed in the other existing roller tables.
The automation of the entire area will be updated with new PLCs, cables, local controls, control panels, communication protocols, and interfacing with the current L2 level.
POMINI Long Rolling Mills will also provide advisory services for assembly, commissioning, and training of personnel. Fluid systems, operational and spare parts will round off the supply.
Through the automatic control of rolling parameters and the optimization of working sequences, the modernization project will enable a better repeatability and quality of the process. Downtimes for changes and maintenance will be reduced, which will increase the equipment availability and the operational flexibility. All these benefits will lead to a more profitable production management.
The start-up of the rolling mill after the modernization is expected in the first half of 2026.
