Chinese steelmaker Wuhan Iron & Steel (WISCO) has issued a final acceptance certificate (FAC) to SMS group following the completion of a modernisation project.

The German plant builder has modernised finishing stands F4 and F7 of WISCO’s high capacity hot strip mill number two, the aim being to increase plant availability.

The mill itself was supplied by SMS group and has been in operation since 2003 and was modified in 2015 to expand WISCO’s range of high-strength and pipe grade products.

The recent revamp of finishing stands F4 and F7 included the installation of CVC®plus systems with ±150mm shifting stroke and the adaptation of hydraulic valve stands. These modifications took place in 2019 during the mill’s annual shutdown as only very few adaptations were required.