News

• The project enlarges the product mix of high-speed steel bars
• Cassette-type Compact Rolling stands offer outstanding rigidity
• Saleable quality was obtained since the first bar with very tight tolerances

In November 2021, POMINI Long Rolling Mills received by Erasteel Kloster AB the Final Acceptance Certificate of the modernization project completed at the Swedish rolling unit in Söderfors, Sweden. The modernization enables the rolling mill, which has a yearly production capacity of 40,000 metric tons, to enlarge its range of rolled products with the addition of six new round dimensions of high-speed steel bars.

The compact and rigid design of CCR (Cassette-type Compact Rolling) stands is ideal for rolling products with the highest quality demands. Very tight tolerances of dimension and shape are granted. The high degree of automation allows for flexible and efficient production, even for the small order lots typical of high-end products. The CCR stands are mainly employed in mills where high-alloy products are rolled such as stainless steel, tool steel and super-alloys.

The scope of supply of Erasteel modernization project included two new reversing CCR stands with 620 mm roll nominal centerline distance and 800 barrel length, complete with gear motors for adjustment of the roll gap.  Pass distributions were engineered in both stands for the rolling of round bars with diameters of 57, 66, 71 and 76 mm. A new pass distribution for an existing CCR 620 stand was also supplied for the rolling of round bars with diameters of 85 and 105 mm. Roll shafts and rings, rest bars for guides were supplied for the new and existing CCR stands. Dedicated guiding systems were supplied to allow the rolling of two dimensions at each of the CCR stands. The bar under rolling is guided by either static blades or adjustable rollers, as best suited to the individual pass. Integrated in the guiding equipment is a groove cooling system especially designed for special steels, with adjustable nozzles, timed operation and flow control. The scope provided by POMINI Long Rolling Mills was rounded off with advisory services for erection and commissioning. During startup, saleable quality was obtained since the first bar, and a tolerance better than ½ DIN 1013 was reached.

Erasteel is a multi-national group and it offers a wide range of high-end steel grades and alloys produced either by powder metallurgy or conventional metallurgy. Erasteel's activities include powder metallurgy, hot isostatic pressing, forging and rolling of billets. The company is a major player in the market of high added-value products and serves the tooling, the automotive, the aerospace, the energy and other industrial markets. Product forms include powders, round and flat bars as well as edge wire and strips. Erasteel has achieved a high standard of quality and experience in the processing of PM powder metallurgy steels and HSS high-speed steels. Erasteel traces its origins back to the XV century, when the first steel factory was established in Vikmanshyttan, Sweden. Nowadays, Erasteel runs six production sites in Sweden, France and China, as well as several service centers and sales offices across the globe. The Söderfors site is active in the areas of powder metallurgy, hot isostatic pressing, and forging and rolling of billets.

Part of Callista Group, POMINI Long Rolling Mills S.r.l. is based in Marnate (Varese, Italy) and specializes in the design, construction, installation and start-up of plants for the hot rolling of long products such as bars, commercial profiles, sections, rails and wire rod. All the steel grades are processed, from rebar for reinforced concrete to special and high-alloy steels.

The contract was originally awarded to Primetals Technologies Italy, the preceding company of POMINI Long Rolling Mills.