Posted to News on 23rd Sep 2026, 15:00
ABB drive and motor solution set to enhance crop shear performance, safety and reliability
iconsys, an ABB Value Provider, has secured a multi-million pound order to provide a medium- and low-voltage drive and motor solution for a new coil box and crop shear machinery at a UK steel mill.
(See ABB at MachineBuilding.Live, 14 October 2026, on stand 141)
A coil box in a hot strip mill is a mechanical device placed between the roughing mill and finishing mill. It temporarily coils the hot transfer bar into a loose roll and then uncoils it into the finishing mill train. This traps heat, evens out temperatures, and shortens the plant layout.
Crop shear machinery is used in hot and cold rolling mills to cut the front and tail ends of metal strips, before entering the finishing mill train. These machines endure intense loads in high temperatures, while cutting material cleanly and accurately to prevent jams in subsequent processing.
The drive and motor solution will optimise coiling and cutting operations, while improving safety and reliability. It will also contribute to reduced downtime, improved production efficiency, and extended equipment life. The scope includes ABB ACS880 liquid-cooled multidrive cabinets and modules, ACS880 single drives, and low voltage AC induction motors.
Both iconsys and ABB bring considerable expertise in delivering projects of this type, particularly within steel mill applications, combining iconsys' ACS880 platform expertise with ABB UK's industry-leading technical support and the simplicity of a single-source partner. The project is expected to commence in the second half of 2027.
