Siemens has won an order with stainless steel producer Aperam to replace the existing direct-current (DC) main drives of the finishing mill at the technology company’s Châtelet operations in Belgium, it said on Tuesday May 8.

More powerful alternating current (AC) systems will replace the DC drives, as part of a broader project at Aperam to increase productivity and cost efficiency.

“Seven stands are to be modernised at the finishing mill of Aperam’s hot rolling mill,” Siemens said.

“Siemens will supply the motors, converters and transformers for this and will handle installation, supervision, commissioning and training,” it added.

The project will be carried out jointly by Siemens Competence Centre and Siemens Belgium, and is to be completed in seven stages from mid-2013 to 2019.

Work will take place during scheduled annual maintenance stoppages, the company added.

Elfi Middelbeek 
emiddelbeek@metalbulletin.com