Metals
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Take back control with solutions forged in steel.
TMEIC’s Industrial Systems engineers are the leading force in ferrous and nonferrous metals production around the world and have been for more than 50 years. From outfitting new steel rolling mills to identifying targeted upgrades within existing facilities, TMEIC rolling mill technology and metal strip processing applications increase efficiency, reduce downtime, and provide significant production savings. Solutions are available for Level 0, Level 1, Level 2, and Process Models scenarios.
Making a difference in the steel industry.
Take advantage of TMEIC’s comprehensive mill audits to identify opportunities for reaching optimum production levels throughout your entire process. Modernization projects in the steel industry and beyond provide significant process upgrades with minimal production interruptions. TMEIC is the preferred industrial drive and automation systems provider worldwide for rolling mill machinery. TMEIC solutions are unmatched in the industry and our engineers look forward to finding creative solutions to meet your specific challenges.
Energy Savings for the Metals Industry
The steel industry is energy intensive with many opportunities to apply advanced controls to save energy.
Energy saving systems typically use variable frequency drives, mill feedback data, and expert mill operation knowledge to precisely control and reduce the energy flows through the equipment. Some of the actual savings achieved by TMEIC on hot strip mills are shown below.
Metals Modernization
In today’s metals market, modernizing existing assets has become a strategic way to stay competitive—especially as companies consolidate or shift capacity.
TMEIC is the industry’s leading expert in mill modernization, helping metal producers boost efficiency, expand product offerings, and accelerate ROI. Our proven approach integrates advanced control and modeling technologies into existing infrastructure through phased implementation—ensuring system reliability, minimizing downtime, and building operator confidence throughout the transition.
Modernized mills powered by TMEIC often match the performance of new facilities—at a fraction of the cost and with significantly faster payback.
Applications
TMEIC Supplies Superior Control Systems for Hot Rolling Mills
Hot rolling mills reduce heated slabs of steel, stainless, or aluminum into thin strip used in automotive, rail, and appliance applications. These coils are either shipped directly or further processed into cold-rolled sheet, coated products, or pipe.
TMEIC supplies complete systems—including high-power drives, automation, and process control—to ensure precise control of thickness, shape, and cooling for optimal material strength. Our experts perform vibration, speed, and electrical simulations to configure motors, drives, and transformers for each mill.
Operator stations feature ergonomically designed controls and real-time HMI monitoring for continuous performance oversight.
Precision Solutions for Plate Mills
TMEIC delivers integrated power, automation, and testing systems for rolling mills that produce high-strength steel plates used in shipbuilding, infrastructure, and industrial machinery. Our technology ensures reliable performance and consistent product quality.
From mill setup and drive systems to process automation and Ultrasonic Testing, TMEIC helps plate mills maintain tight control over thickness, width, crown, flatness, and temperature. Advanced features like Temperature Controlled Rolling (TCR), Automatic Gauge Control (AGC), and Crown & Flatness Control allow for precision shaping of multiple plates in line—an innovation first achieved by TMEIC.
Advanced Automation for Cold Rolling Mills
TMEIC provides comprehensive electrical and automation systems for cold mills that roll pickled steel, stainless, aluminum, copper, and foil at ambient temperatures. Our solutions support various mill types—from 2-High to 20-High and Sendzimir mills—with precise flatness and thickness control.
We supply drive systems, power equipment, and process automation alongside high-productivity welders like the Mash Seam Welder (MSW), Flash Butt Welder (NMW), and Laser Beam Welder (LBW).
Core Capabilities Include:
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Crown & Flatness Control: Maintains strip geometry using real-time sensor feedback.
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Automatic Gauge Control (AGC): Regulates strip thickness with feedforward, feedback, and mass flow methods.
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Eccentricity Compensation (ECC): Offsets roll irregularities to ensure uniformity.
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Tension Control: Optimizes strip tension between stands and reels.
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Flying Gauge Change (FGC): Enables smooth transitions between product orders.
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Cold Mill Setup (CSU): Calculates optimal speed, tension, force, and thickness settings.
TMEIC also offers modernization paths for tandem cold mills and aluminum foil lines—transitioning from DC to AC motors to reduce maintenance, boost responsiveness, and improve drivetrain performance.
Integrated Systems for Steel Process Lines
TMEIC delivers complete electrical and automation systems for process lines that transform hot and cold rolled coils into finished products through pickling, annealing, galvanizing, coating, and shearing.
We provide drive systems, power distribution, and precision control across every stage of the process—and are global leaders in supplying seam, flash, and laser welders that support continuous operation and high productivity.
Supported Process Line Types:
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Pickling Lines
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Galvanizing Lines
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Annealing Lines
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Laminate Coating Lines
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Color Coating Lines
Section and rails are produced using caliber rolling mills and universal rolling mills
TMEIC provides integrated automation systems for section mill plants—from billet rolling through finishing operations like cooling, reforming, cutting, and piling. Our Mill Master Control platform manages critical functions including screw-down, roller table speed, cut-to-length, and finishing sequences with seamless coordination.
We support bar and wire rod mills with high-speed controls such as Free Tension Control (FTC), loop management, impact drop compensation, and front-end positioning. These mills demand ultra-fast systems—rolling wire at over 100 m/s—to ensure dimensional accuracy and product quality for applications ranging from construction to automotive parts.
TMEIC also delivers robust solutions for seamless pipe mills used in oil and gas. We provide high-speed, dynamic control systems for temperature drop and wall thickness regulation, enabling accurate, consistent pipe production.
Across all mill types, our systems are designed for flexibility, quality, and advanced information management—plus optional Ultrasonic Testing for non-destructive inspection.
Total System Integration for Coke Oven Automation
TMEIC provides fully integrated automation systems for coke oven machinery, combining advanced drives, sensing, control, and mill-proven field experience. Our Factory Automation (FA) solutions support everything from revamp upgrades to full system modernization.
We specialize in incremental FA installations that extend plant life—critical given the high cost of new coke oven construction. Whether replacing machines individually or upgrading control layers, TMEIC adapts to each plant’s operational structure and staffing model.
Key Capabilities Include:
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HMI Systems: Operator-friendly graphics and dialog tools reduce risk and boost productivity in harsh environments.
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Safe Coke Pushing: Automated ram control with real-time slope detection, locomotive tracking, and ITV-based monitoring for safe, unattended operations.
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Hierarchical Control: Retry logic and bypass routines ensure continuous, autonomous operation—even during errors or equipment skips.
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Remote Monitoring: Integrated systems deliver safe, reliable performance and support autonomous locomotion control.
TMEIC’s coke oven solutions improve safety, increase uptime, and offer a clear path to long-term plant sustainability.
Electric Locomotive Solutions for Coke and Steel Plants
TMEIC offers advanced locomotive systems for coke oven and steel plant logistics, designed for safety, efficiency, and low environmental impact.
Quench Electric Locomotive (QEL)
Used for coke quenching operations, the QEL travels between the furnace and quenching tower, powered by a pantograph-fed electric motor system.
Diesel Electric Locomotive (DEL)
Replacing traditional hydraulic locomotives, the DEL improves fuel efficiency, reduces emissions, and simplifies maintenance. Key advantages include:
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Energy Efficiency: 20% higher than hydraulic systems, with inverter-driven dual-generator architecture and idle-stop capability.
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Ease of Maintenance: Fewer hydraulic components, sealed brushless motors, and standard electrical parts simplify upkeep.
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Environmental Benefits: Less fuel use, reduced emissions (COx, NOx, smoke), and no oil leaks from hydraulic systems.
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Operator Comfort: Room-type enclosed car body reduces noise and protects components from weather.
Key Technical Features:
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Inverter drive system with electrical braking
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Brushless generator and sealed motor system
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Fail-safe spring disk brake and air-operated parking brake
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Weatherproof enclosure with maintenance access
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AC100V/200V plug compatibility for onboard electronics
Future Capabilities:
TMEIC is advancing toward autonomous locomotive operation, including:
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Automatic speed and braking control
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Anti-slip/skid detection with auto sand-spread
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Uniform stopping precision and derailment emergency response
Power and Control Systems for Electric Furnaces
TMEIC delivers advanced power and control solutions for electric furnaces, combining industry-leading technology with proven reliability and expert support. We tailor each system to match your specific furnace application and performance goals.
Furnace Types Supported:
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Steelmaking Electric Arc Furnaces (AC & DC)
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Ladle Furnaces
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Ferro-alloy Furnaces
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Special Melting Furnaces (e.g., Ash Melting)
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Graphitizing Furnaces (AC & DC)
System Capabilities:
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Main Power Equipment:
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Furnace transformers (AC & DC)
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Rectifiers and series/DC reactors
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Vacuum circuit breakers (150,000-cycle life)
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High/extra-high voltage equipment
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Control & Automation:
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Master PLC/HMI-based control systems
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Automatic melting control
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Electrode and auxiliary drive systems
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Hydraulic and motor control centers
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Power Quality & Compensation:
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Static VAR Compensation (SVCS) using IEGT or TCR
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Harmonic filters and active filters
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Installation & Support:
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Engineering, site execution, commissioning, and start-up
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TMEIC systems ensure precise, efficient, and safe furnace operation while improving uptime and reducing maintenance across steel and specialty furnace applications.