Siemens to modernize pickling line for ArcelorMittal Asturias in Avilés

• Capacity will be increased to 1.8 million metric tons per annum
• The modernization will pay back within two years
• A new line layout will make work safer

Spanish steel producer ArcelorMittal Asturias has awarded Siemens Metals Technologies an order to completely modernize the pickling line at its Avilés plant. The aims of the project are to increase the capacity of the pickling line from 1.5 to 1.8 million metric tons per annum, and to further improve working safety. The revamp will be performed during short planned downtimes. The modernized line is scheduled to be operational at the end of 2015, and pay back within two years.

ArcelorMittal Asturias runs two integrated steel plants at its Avilés und Gijón locations in the Principality of Asturias in Northern Spain. The plant in Avilés has a productions capacity of 4.2 million metric tons of liquid steel per annum. It produces a wide range of flat carbon-steel products, including hot and cold strip, as well as galvanized, tin-coated and organically coated sheets. The pickling line had been revamped twice 30 years and 14 years ago by Cosim, the Spanish Clecim subsidiary, which is now part of Siemens. It processes strips for end applications in the construction and automotive industries.

For the modernization of the pickling line, Siemens will supply a charging section, a new strip preparation, a new entry section, and will increase the capacity of the strip accumulators. A new scale breaker will replace the existing skin-pass mill. The exit section will be equipped with an edge notcher. In the course of the conversion, potential danger points will also be eliminated along the layout of the line to make work safer.

Siemens is responsible for the complete basic and detail engineering of the mechanical components, and will supervise the installation and commissioning of the line. The necessary work will be planned to minimize interruptions to production. The Metals Technologies Business Unit (Linz, Austria) is one of the world’s leading life-cycle partners for the metallurgical industry. The Business Unit offers a comprehensive technology, modernization, product and service portfolio as well as integrated automation and environmental solutions covering the entire life cycle of plants.

This press release is available at www.siemens.com/press/pi/PR2014100011PDEN

Exit section of the pickling line of ArcelorMittal Asturias in Avilés, Spain. The pickling line will be completely modernized by Siemens (Source: ArcelorMittal).

Siemens AG (Berlin and Munich) is a global technology powerhouse that has stood for engineering excellence, innovation, quality, reliability and internationality for more than 165 years. The company is active in more than 200 countries, focusing on the areas of electrification, automation and digitalization. One of the world’s largest producers of energy-efficient, resource-saving technologies, Siemens is No. 1 in offshore wind turbine construction, a leading supplier of combined cycle turbines for power generation, a leading provider of power transmission solutions and a pioneer in infrastructure solutions and automation and software solutions for industry. The company is also a leading supplier of medical imaging equipment – such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging systems – and a leader in laboratory diagnostics as well as clinical IT. In fiscal 2013, which ended on September 30, 2013, revenue from continuing operations totaled €75.9 billion and income from continuing operations €4.2 billion. At the end of September 2013, Siemens had around 362,000 employees worldwide on the basis of continuing operations.

Based on Siemens information