A steel mill’s slitting and cut-to-length lines generally need modernizing at regular intervals. The reason behind the modernization is larger steel coils, increased speed and harder materials, which results in the cutting lines having to bear increased loading.

Etteplan’s Oulu office acted from 1988 to 1989 and in 2003 as the main planner for modernizing the cutting-to-length lines at Rautaruukki’s steel mill in Raahe. During the first refurbishment, the work involved raising the speed of the machinery. The modernization in 2003 involved adding a new skin pass mill and a new leveller. The skin pass mill finishes off the trimmed steel plates, making them smooth and tension free. This noticeably improves the competitiveness of Rautaruukki’s products. Etteplan acted as the main planner for the modernization in both projects.

Revamping cutting lines calls for demanding and experienced machine design: Etteplan has accumulated extensive design resources over the years through its involvement in many projects. Moreover, many cutting lines were originally planned by Etteplan’s designers. Etteplan’s Oulu office has received many commissions to plan cutting lines.

Other projects planned by Etteplan include: A completely new slitting line 2 for Rautaruukki Oyj in Hämeenlinna; Etteplan was responsible for carrying out the whole project. Etteplan has also made a combined slitting and cut-to-length line for the Aspo Group in Moscow; here too, Etteplan was responsible for seeing the project through to completion.