SMS group to upgrade hot strip mill at Colakoğlu and expand product portfolio to include wear-resistant steel grades

• Modernization of laminar cooling section and coiler system
• Extension of product range to include wear-resistant hot strip grades
• Project will enable low-maintenance, autonomous production

Steel producer Colakoğlu Metalurji AS, Dilovası, Turkey, has placed an order with SMS group for the modernization of the laminar cooling section and the downcoiler in its 1,850-millimeter hot strip mill. With the completion of the laminar cooling system upgrade by SMS group, Colakoğlu Metalurji AS plans to enter the market for wear-resistant steel grades.

Both companies have enjoyed a trustful and longstanding technology partnership since SMS group delivered the 1,850-millimeter hot strip mill (HSM) to Colakoğlu Metalurji AS (Colakoğlu) back in 2010. The most recent technological upgrade of this mill, also performed by SMS group, has not only ensured stable and near-autonomous rolling, but also improved product quality and reduced maintenance costs in the finishing mill.

With this current order, Colakoğlu is aiming to expand its range of products to include wear-resistant hot strip grades, which are used, for example, to produce truck beds and excavator buckets as well as for applications in the mining industry. Steel sheets and plates such as these are usually delivered in a quenched state. At Colakoğlu, this will be achieved by increasing the cooling rates in the laminar cooling section of the HSM. The increased cooling rate is also beneficial for other steel grades in the product mix. The use of various alloying elements can be reduced, saving significantly on operating costs.

In addition to the laminar cooling system, the modernization also covers the downcoiler area.

Super-reinforced cooling

Optimized cooling of hot-rolled wear resistant steel grades takes place quickly and early, following the last rolling pass in the finishing mill. The first cooling groups in the laminar cooling section will be replaced by SMS group’s super-reinforced cooling technology, which provides a specific water application rate that is almost three times higher. To improve flow control and maintainability, new flowmeters and control valves will be installed throughout the laminar cooling section.

Colakoğlu relies on the integrated solutions provided by SMS group, which feature advanced control systems and process models from the X-Pact^® product family. To ensure the best results for the enhanced product mix, the existing X-Pact^® Cooling Section Control system will be upgraded and adapted to the new equipment, ensuring a fully automatic cooling process.

Additionally, SMS group is supplying the X-Pact^® Microstructure Property Model (MPM), which offers specialized functions for monitoring and simulating mechanical properties. This model benefits customers significantly by reducing the number of material samples required, thereby saving time and laboratory costs. It also enables the prediction of mechanical properties, allowing for the quicker quality release of products after rolling.

Improved coiling capabilities

Wear-resistant strip is coiled at low temperatures, i.e., below the martensitic transformation temperature of the material. To process these grades reliably and accurately, the drive train for both downcoilers will be upgraded, and reinforced chute roller tables with position/force control will be installed.

Implementation of new equipment

In order to minimize production disruptions during the execution of the new facilities and to reduce downtimes, the new equipment will be largely pre-assembled before delivery. The modernized HSM is scheduled to go into service in the fall of 2026.