Hulamin’s long-running modernisation of its aluminium rolling operations has taken a significant step forward, with A Richards Consulting (ARC) completing the second phase of the upgrade to the company’s S5 cold mill in South Africa. Hulamin is the largest aluminium rolling facility in Sub-Saharan Africa and is also one of the region’s biggest exporters, with overseas sales accounting for more than half of its revenue.
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At the centre of the project is the drive to process wider strips, a change that opens access to new markets and enables the S5 mill to concentrate on high-quality, 14-out can-stock material. Hulamin expects the shift to improve product flow across the entire plant, ultimately raising overall utilisation.
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For the Phase 2 upgrade, ARC brought in an innovative bridle fitted with a colouring roll, which is designed not only to handle the increased strip width but also to deliver high-precision roll positioning, steadier tension control and simpler maintenance routines. The new design is versatile and supports wider coolant spray bars and seamlessly integrates with the existing coil-feed unit.
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Featuring longer back up rolls and work rolls, the updated bridle comes with highly functional bearing assemblies and modified chocks capable of withstanding higher temperatures and greater widths. ARC’s engineering accommodates faster strip speeds and the associated rise in heat, while creating space for an expanded suite of surface-inspection tools, including new cameras, scanners, dryness sensors, load cells and a flatness measurement system.
Following the Phase 2 development, a Hulamin spokesperson stated, “The mill upgrades were completed as per the project plan with little or no issues related to the work executed by ARC. All the equipment and modifications fixed as planned and have been operating well.”
The company sees targeted upgrades such as this as a cost-effective alternative to purchasing entirely new machinery, particularly when launching new products or replacing older technology, though it acknowledges that mill modernisation remains a highly specialist discipline.
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