50 years of experience is the key to success.
ABB strengthens its position as a leading supplier of strip tension load cells to processing lines. In 2004 the well-proven Pressductor® technology is celebrating the 50 year anniversary.
ABB was recently awarded large contracts for supply of strip tension load cells for processing lines in Korea and China. The contracts include more than 50 metal strip tension measurement systems, which further strengthen ABB’s position as one of the leading suppliers of dependable tension measurement systems for strip rolling and processing lines.
ABB’s high performance load cells are based on the unique Pressductor technology principle, patented in 1954, the magneto-elastic effect, according to which the magnetic properties of steel are influenced by mechanical forces acting on it. For half a century (in 2004 Pressductor is celebrating the 50 year anniversary), the Pressductor technology has proven superior performance in very demanding applications like roll force and strip tension measurement, flatness measurement as well as web tension measurement in paper and converting industries.
The ABB PillowBlock load cells have proven their outstanding dependability in demanding strip tension measurement applications in both cold rolling mills and processing lines (annealing, pickling and galvanizing lines) around the world. The furnace sections, always with high temperatures, are another important and demanding application where ABB PillowBlock load cells have been evaluated as the best solution.
The contract in Korea is for a new Continuous Galvanizing Line (CGL). Totally 56 ABB PillowBlock load cells will be installed for strip tension measurement in different sections of the CGL, i.e. bridle rolls, furnace sections, entry and delivery loopers, the entry and the exit of the skin pass mill.
The contracts in China include more than 60 ABB Pillowblock load cells for installations in annealing & pickling lines and tension leveling lines.
The scope of supply for the contracts include Pillowblock Load Cells type PFTL 201 and PFCL 201 with ABB’s new user-friendly digital Tension Electronics PFEA 11X-series.
The Korean and Chinese customers chose the ABB load cells due to ABB’s good experience of load cell installations in demanding applications and harsh environments. Also, the ABB load cells have proven their excellent performance and reliability during many years of operation. Compared to other types of load cells, the ABB load cells require a minimum of maintenance, which today is very important due to the competition creating a strong price pressure on metal strip.
Strong local support from ABB has been another very important factor for the customers’ evaluation of the different load cell suppliers.