At 9:58 on October 31, the hot commissioning of the 5,600 mm wide and thick rough rolling mill of Zhoukou Steel succeeded at the first effort. The mill was independently designed and supplied by MCC Capital Engineering & Research Incorporation Limited ("CERI").

The 5,600 mm Wide and Thick Plate Project of Zhoukou Steel is a key project for structural adjustment, transformation and upgrading of Henan Iron and Steel Group. The production line is equipped with 5,600 mm+5,500 mm double-housing thick plate rolling mills. The 5,600 mm rough rolling mill has a rolling force of 120,000 kN and a housing weight of more than 400 tons. The supporting roll has a maximum diameter of φ2,400 mm and a piece weight of about 270 tons. All technical parameters are at the world's leading level. It is currently the only rolling mill with a width exceeding 5,500 mm and thus the real "king of rolling mills" in the world. 

CERI independently designs and supplies 5,600 mm rough rolling mills, and cooperates with CITIC Heavy Industries in manufacturing these mills, breaking the monopoly of foreign suppliers in designing 5,000 mm rolling mills and improving the technology of domestic thick plate rolling mills to a new level. Supported by the rich cumulative technologies in thick plates, CERI has provided the rough rolling mill with many advanced technologies: 

1. The rolling mill has an integrally cast large-section housing, and applies rigidity deviation control technology on the operator side and motor side of the rolling mill. The rolling mill has high rigidity, fulfilling large rolling torque and large reduction. 

2. The rolling mill housing adopts wear-resistant and corrosion-resistant technology to improve its impact resistance and wear resistance and effectively prolong the service life of the housing. 

3. The rolling mill adopts the multi-guide bending roll technology. The reliability and shape control ability of the bending cylinder are improved. 

4. The lifting speed of the rolling mill's reduction device is high, which is 1.4 times that of the conventional thick plate rolling mill. The production speed of rolling is improved. 

5. The multi-functional quick automatic roll change technology is adopted for the rolling mill. The layout of the roll change area is simple, and the lifting operation is easy and quick, shortening the roll change time and improving production efficiency. 

6. The rolling mill adopts a new type of frame-type rigid manipulator technology, which is characterized by simple structure, convenient installation and adjustment, high positioning accuracy and improved vision in the front and rear areas of the rolling mill. 

7. The new breast roll change mode is adopted for the rolling mill, shortening the time of changing breast rolls by about 40%. 

With a sound project management, design and procurement quality system, CERI adhered to the standard of building world-class equipment. The project team completed the installation and commissioning of rough rolling mills in only 50 days, creating a new record for 5,000 mm thick plate rolling mills. 

CERI is the only full-range comprehensive system supplier capable of providing consultation and design services for medium-thick plate processes as well as whole-line equipment and automation control systems and models in China. CERI is also a leading member of the "National Team for Medium-Thick Plate Metallurgy Construction" under China Minmetals Corporation China MCC, playing a pioneering role in medium-thick plate process technologies, equipment, and electronic control in China. CERI boasts innovative processes and technologies such as the through-type thick plate production line, ultra-long plate rolling process, and angle rolling process. It also has independent equipment and technologies such as reliable and high-precision thick plate rolling mills, high-performance straighteners, energy-saving and environment-friendly shearing machines, and closely-arranged cooling beds. Moreover, CERI possesses whole-process automation and intelligent technologies for medium-thick plates, such as high-precision rolling models, optimized distribution control of cooling beds, synchronization and anti-deviation control of double-side shears, intelligent and optimized shearing, and health monitoring and optimization of production lines.