SMS Group (Düsseldorf, Germany):

Brühl F., Prof.

SMS Group (Hilden, Germany):
Cottin M., Prof., e-mail: michael.cottin@sms-group.com
Sachteleben C., Prof
Kretschmer M.
Sasse C.

Steel is still the most important construction material in automobiles. Competing with other materials, the share of high-strength grades keeps growing and so do the demands for producing robust and, at the same time, lightweight steels. Cold-strip processing lines from SMS group meet these demands. This paper illustrates the most important process steps and economic technologies for galvanizing and annealing lines. In addition various flexible line concepts and rederences are presented. SMS Group can supply innovative and high-efficient equipment for steel cold-strip processing lines — all “from one hands”. Some of these researches confirm that the customers of SMS Group are able to produce up-dated steels (including high-strength steels). At the same time the applied technologies allow to keep operation expenses at a low level. In addition it is shown that very flexible plant concepts exist. It is confirmed that flexible production schedules make possible to response aimly on demand fluctuations and to reach the maximal expenses efficiency level in the permanently varying market conditions. SMS Group many times demonstrated its ability to develop such technologies, to supply and install the equipment. The most part of leading automotive companies trust in SMS technologies.