Clecim and ABB will collaborate to provide automation, electrification, and digitalization technologies for Tata Steel’s newly built 1.8 million ton pickling line
Port Talbot steel plant of Tata Steel invests £ 1.25 billion to upgrade blast furnace to electric arc furnace
This newly built pickling line will become the core of Port Talbot’s green steelmaking facility, ensuring that Tata Steel can provide high-quality low-carbon steel products to downstream enterprises and users

ABB collaborates with Clecim to provide automation, electrification, and digital technology for the 1.8 million ton pickling line at Port Talbot steel plant of Tata Steel. Image source: Tata Steel

ABB has partnered with steel processing line and rolling mill equipment supplier Clecim to successfully win the opportunity to cooperate with Tata Steel. They will provide comprehensive automation, electrification, and digitalization solutions for the advanced pickling line newly built at their Port Talbot steel plant in the UK. With professional technology, ABB will become a key support for the safe, efficient, and intelligent operation of this new production line, ensuring its synchronous operation with Tata Steel’s newly built 3.2 million ton electric arc furnace (EAF).

Tata Steel and the UK government have jointly invested over £ 1.25 billion in this steel mill located in Wales, including £ 500 million in special funding provided by the UK government, with a focus on decarbonizing the factory’s operations. ABB will complete the technical deployment and commissioning work as scheduled by the end of 2027, ensuring that the Port Talbot steel plant is fully operational before 2028. The new production line integrates high-quality machinery and process equipment provided by Clecim, which will mainly handle the oxide scale formed on the surface of hot-rolled coils during the rolling process, ensuring the cleanliness of the steel coil surface for further processing, thereby improving product quality and enhancing the adhesion of coatings or paint surfaces.

ABB will be responsible for providing automation technology and deploying it Roll@xA Digital solutions and industry-leading ABB Ability ™ System 800xA ® Distributed Control System (DCS), equipped with a customized application knowledge base for processing lines. It is worth mentioning that, ABB Ability ™ System 800xA ® The ability to integrate all automation functional modules into a unified work environment is crucial for achieving seamless business operations.

In addition, ABB will also provide a range of digital solutions to optimize the performance of new production lines, including ABB Ability for the steel and non-ferrous metal industries ™ Manufacturing Operations Management (MOM) and ABB Ability ™ Data Analytics Platform, as well as EOW Extended Operator Workstation for enhancing human-machine operational efficiency. These systems can also be fully integrated with the automation system of Clecim pickling bags, creating a work environment with a good operating experience.

The system solution aims to promote the further development of digital elements such as intelligent manufacturing, asset management, and human-machine interconnection, and safeguard the future operational optimization of Tata Steel.

ABB’s electrification supply scope for this project includes medium voltage switchgear and transformers, uninterruptible power supply (UPS) equipment, a range of low voltage transmission and multi frequency conversion devices, energy-saving AC motors, and related control center infrastructure.

Our new pickling line will become the core of Port Talbot’s green steelmaking facility, ensuring that we can provide downstream businesses and customers with high-quality low-carbon steel products that society urgently needs, “said Rajesh Nair, CEO of Tata Steel UK

ABB technology will play an important role in ensuring safe, efficient, and optimized operation of Tata Steel’s new pickling line. Image source: ABB

We are proud to be involved in the advancement of this project, by integrating engineering solutions, procurement systems, and locally manufactured mechanical and electrical products in France, to help Port Talbot steel mill achieve critical transformation at this stage, “said Thomas Comte, CEO of Clecim.” This achievement demonstrates the strong partnership we have established with ABB over the past few months. We will work hand in hand to successfully complete the installation and delivery of the new pickling production line in an agile and innovative manner. ”

Frederik Esterhuizen, Global Head of Steel and Nonferrous Metals Business at ABB Process Industries, said, “Our team has a strong foundation in cooperation with Tata Steel. We firmly believe that through cooperation, we can build better operating models to optimize steelmaking processes. No organization can solve the common challenges faced by the industry alone. Therefore, we believe that working together with Clecim will significantly accelerate the process of customer value creation and industry technological innovation. We look forward to working together efficiently to promote the progress of this project