• JISCO has rolled the first plate on schedule at its new 4200-millimeter heavy plate mill
• SMS group’s X-Pact^® automation solutions ensure stable process performance from the outset and enable a rapid ramp‑up
• Innovative automation functions boost plate yield and ensure production continuity

JISCO Hongxing Iron & Steel Co., Ltd. has celebrated the successful completion and commissioning of its new 4200-millimeter heavy plate mill, with the first plate rolled on schedule on 28 August 2025 to the great satisfaction of the Chinese steelmaker. This milestone marks a significant step in expanding JISCO’s production portfolio beyond the limitations of its existing 2800-millimeter plate mill. Thanks to a range of integrated automation solutions from SMS group, the new mill has already demonstrated stable process performance, fully meeting the customer’s requirements.

SMS supplied a comprehensive package from its proven X-Pact^® automation system and process technology portfolio. This holistic setup for the heavy plate mill ensures precise tracking and coordinated sequence control throughout the hot area, ensuring that all system components operate harmoniously together.

Key features of the system include X-Pact^® Pass Schedule Calculation (PSC^®), a physics-based process model that enables the generation of optimal setup parameters, and X-Pact^® Batch Schedule Handler, which manages multi-plate and batch rolling while maximizing production based on defined rolling strategies. Superior plate rectangularity is achieved with X-Pact^® Automatic Shape Control, complemented by X-Pact^® Profile and Flatness Control to guarantee the highest product quality in terms of strip and plate geometry. Additionally, the head-tail end thickness compensation function (ECF), integrated within the enhanced in-bar thickness control system, effectively counteracts thickness variations of approximately 500 millimeters near the head and tail ends, caused by temperature and rolling force fluctuations. This results in considerably improved plate yield and enhanced production continuity.

“The state-of-the-art automation solution provided by SMS group was instrumental in achieving a smooth and timely first plate at JISCO’s new 4200-millimeter heavy plate mill,” said Peter Langner, CEO SMS China. “It forms the foundation for reliable high-quality production and a rapid ramp-up.”

Cao Shihai, Vice President of JISCO Hongxing, added, “We chose SMS group for its future-oriented automation expertise. The solution delivers the process performance and continuity we require to fully realize our expanded capacity.”

The first plate marks a major milestone in the partnership between JISCO and SMS. With hot commissioning complete, the focus will now shift to stabilizing production and driving continuous optimization to secure sustained high performance levels at JISCO’s new heavy plate facility.