Russula supplied the process automation to upgrade the wire rod mill exit for a Special Bar Quality (SBQ) mill in Europe. The purpose of the upgrade was to replace legacy equipment and integrate the entire mill into the same automation platform. During a previous upgrade, Russula replaced the automation and drives for the 15-stand mill and the drives of the rod mill exit.

The wire rod mill has two exits, a wire rod outlet and Garrett coiler that forms bar-in-coil, both controlled by ABB Asea MP200s controllers and housed in the same room as the IO. The existing PLC was replaced with a Siemens S7-400 and remote SIMATIC ET 200MP for the I/O modules, connected by Profinet industrial ethernet. The HMI connections and screens were updated. New stainless-steel covers were supplied for the control desks.

Russula was also responsible for the field investigation, electrical engineering, installation supervision, startup and production support. The new rod mill exit process automation was successfully installed and commissioned in August 2019.