Yamato Steel and SMS group commission Japan’s first CRS® roller straightener in existing heavy section mill

• Technological leadership: The introduction of the first roller straightener sets new standards in efficiency and product quality
• The new roller straightener offers improved product quality and shorter downtimes thanks to innovations such as the Load Share Control system and automated roller changes
• Features including Load Share Control and optimized energy efficiency are helping Yamato Steel to achieve its sustainability goals by enabling more environmentally friendly production

Yamato Steel Co. Ltd.—a leading manufacturer of beams and sections—and SMS group have successfully commissioned Japan’s first compact roller straightener (CRS^®). The equipment was installed in Yamato Steel’s heavy section mill in Himeji, Japan, originally supplied by SMS group in 2024.

The heavy section mill was upgraded with the CRS^® 2000-9H straightening machine. This modernization reflects Yamato Steel’s commitment to meeting market demand with superior-quality products and reliable production processes.

The CRS^® 2000-9H straightening machine, the first of its kind in Japan, features nine rollers and a 2000-millimeter pitch. It is designed to straighten heavy sections and sheet piles by applying controlled bending forces, thereby enhancing operational efficiency and product quality. This process corrects distortions and ensures consistent results. SMS’ scope of delivery included the engineering, equipment supplied mainly from SMS workshops, a new L1 automation system, as well as technical assistance for the erection and commissioning and the provision of spare and change parts.

The CRS^® design enables precise and accurate adjustments with the straightening rollers supported in bearings on both sides. This allows the straightening forces to be applied symmetrically, thus ensuring uniform product quality, less residual stress in the finished products, and a longer straightening disc service life. Each of the nine straightening rollers is individually driven, and the top rollers can be precisely adjusted by hydraulic means, even under load, improving adaptability and straightness. With less installed power and effective overload protection, the Load Share Control (LSC) system developed by SMS boasts optimized drive power with guaranteed high energy efficiency levels. This feature also provides better product property control, particularly when it comes to minimizing residual stresses in the finished product.

Yamato Steel’s CRS^® 2000-9H incorporates several features, including a fully automatic system that changes all nine straightening rollers at the same time and an automated “chamber size adjustment” system for the straightening discs. These innovations optimize workflows and minimize downtimes for adjustments during operation, delivering economic benefits by reducing the time and labor required for roll changes. 

In this way, SMS is underlining its commitment to delivering integrated solutions tailored to the specific needs of its clients. The successful commissioning of the CRS^® straightener further solidifies the long-standing partnership between Yamato Steel and SMS. Over the years, SMS has supported the Yamato Kogyo Group, shareholder in Yamato Steel, in several major projects around the world, including revamps at Nucor Yamato Steel in the USA, the supply and commissioning of the heavy section mill at SULB Company B.S.C. in Bahrain, as well as the construction of a new minimill for Siam Yamato in Thailand.