In January, SMS group modernized the continuous galvanizing line at Shandong Iron & Steel Group Rizhao. The project replaced aging controllers and obsolete operating systems with the Siemens TIA platform and S7-1500 controllers. To avoid production losses, engineers used X‑Pact® Plug & Work integration tests and simulations before the actual installation.

During a strict maintenance window, the team restored key functions within three hours and reconnected the entire line after only five hours. Full operations resumed within 27 hours while the zinc pot and heating furnace remained active.

This rapid transition provides a stable foundation for automotive and home appliance steel production. This success relies on a long-term partnership involving multiple processing lines within the facility to ensure reliable, future-proof manufacturing.