ArcelorMittal Calvert in Alabama, USA, has contracted SMS Group to modernize its 2,050 mm hot strip mill (HSM), which has been in operation since 2010. The project aims to enhance mill efficiency and enable production of advanced steel grades and hot strip products.
An Elotherm inductive heating system will be installed upstream of the finishing mill, equipped with heat insulation hoods and integrated into a comprehensive guiding and protection setup. This includes entry and exit wiper roll units, roller tables with side guides, and a total of four longitudinal flux inductors and two transversal flux inductors, each with a nominal power output of 4.8 MW, ensuring ultra-efficient and flexible operation. The system can also be retracted from the line for safe and easy maintenance.
The technology guarantees homogeneous heating of transfer bars across their entire width and length, including the strip edges, within tight tolerance limits, improving downstream processing and product quality.
Integration will build on the X-Pact® electrical and automation system, originally supplied with the mill in 2010 and later upgraded in 2018 with a transfer bar cooler. A gradual upgrade of the Level 1 automation hardware is ongoing and scheduled for completion in 2027, by which time ArcelorMittal’s personnel will be fully trained to operate the new heating system.
All mechanical components will be pre-assembled and function-tested at SMS workshops prior to delivery, ensuring smooth installation and commissioning. The project has been scheduled to minimize production disruptions, with most erection work carried out in parallel with ongoing operations. Hot commissioning is planned for November 2026.