CLECIM SAS: From Steel Industry Equipment Manufacturer to Industrial Engineering Specialist – The New IES Activity
For 50 years, CLECIM SAS has continually reinvented itself to become much more than a simple steel equipment manufacturer. With its new IES – Industrial Engineering Solutions activity, the company has expanded its expertise to deliver high-value-added services in heavy industries outside steel production sector.
This strategic transformation began locally and grew through the professional networks of our experts and word-of-mouth, which spread awareness of our know-how. Today, large scale industrial leader like Michelin, Thales, Safran, Airbus, Naval Group, John Cockerill, and Constellium trust us, along with leading specialists in their fields such as TIMET, Saarstahl Rails, and Mondon SAS.
As an engineering supplier, industrial project leader, general contractor, or integrator of complete solutions, CLECIM SAS offers a flexible and customized approach. Each client can select solutions tailored to their needs from our five core areas of excellence: Expertise, Engineering, Manufacturing, Commissioning, and Customer Service.
In our next newsletter, we will showcase some of our flagship achievements. Perhaps you’ll see yourself there?
CLECIM SAS, your industrial engineering partner, today and tomorrow.
First Coil Produced on the CGL#2 at the HBIS Laoting Production Plant in China!
Following the successful launch of the first coil on the HGCL line in April 2024, Clecim is proud to announce the production of the first coil for the HBIS CGL#2 project at the HBIS Laoting production plant in the People’s Republic of China.
Founded in 2008 following the merger of Tangsteel and Hansteel, the HBIS Group is now one of the largest steel producers in the world.
The Laoting site, located in the Hebei province, is part of a strategic initiative aimed at reducing pollution in urban areas such as Tangshan This relocation project has allowed HBIS to consolidate key production capacities while modernizing and using advanced technologies to produce “green steel.” The site has an annual production capacity of 7.47 million tons of crude steel and 4.1 million tons of hot-rolled steel.
A trusted partner of the HBIS Group since 1999, CLECIM has supported various modernization efforts, In this latest expansion, Clecim has taken the lead in providing three advanced continuous processing lines:
- Continuous Hot-Dip Galvanizing Line (HCGL): Designed to produce hot-rolled products up to 6 mm in thickness, including dual-phase steel and the latest generation of advanced high- strength steels (AHSS). This line has an annual capacity of 412,000 tons, with GI and Zn-Mg coatings.
- Continuous Galvanizing Line (CGL#2): Specifically built to produce the latest generation of HSS and deep drawing grades for exposed automotive panels, and other grades. It has an annual capacity of 500,000 tons, supporting both GI and Zn-Mg coatings.
- Continuous Annealing Line (CAL): Produces advanced high- strength steels, including quench and partitioning (Q&P) steel and martensitic steel, with an annual capacity of 825,000 tons
The production of the first coil marks an important milestone and is a testament to the strong cooperation between all parties involved. The success of the project, completed on schedule, is largely due to the collaborative efforts between Clecim, the HBIS project team and associated consortium partners. This first step lays the foundation for a successful ramp-up in production, equipment adjustments, and line stabilization to achieve contractually defined performance targets. CLECIM’s key equipment, including the zinc pot dross removal robot, the Skin Pass mill, the Tension Leveller, Roll Coaters, the Side Trimmer & Scrap Chopper, and the rotary shear, all built-in and tested in our plant at Savigneux-France, will play a crucial role in ensuring reliable and stable performance in the coming weeks.
Together, HBIS and CLECIM SAS are now on the path to continued success. We look forward to further improving production quality and reaching new heights.
Consulting
CLECIM SAS (CLECIM) and PATURLE ACIERS SA first met in 2009 during their participation in the regional DURACYL project, funded by the CECA (European Coal and Steel Community). The aim of this project was to develop vacuum-deposited coatings for cold rolling mill rolls for better wear resistance.
PATURLE ACIERS SA, a manufacturer of special steels for high-value-added markets in France, recently sought to re-establish collaboration with CLECIM on the leveling of high tensile strength steels.
The challenges involve both optimizing the current performance of the tension leveling line and ensuring the continuity of expertise, as some employees approach retirement while new talent is coming on board.
At CLECIM, a team of experts has been setup, including Stéphane GOUTTEBROZE, Nicolas VERBEKE, and Loïc ROUX. With their combined expertise in leveling (Process, Automation, Mechanics), they have listened, advised, and supported the Industrial Methods Manager, Mr. Nicolas BROCHU, and the Industrial Director, Mr. Gerald LANNIER, in achieving their objectives.
CLECIM methodology can be described into five main steps:
- A theoretical and operational process review and training on general and specific aspects of levelling
- Tests definition and execution, based on an optimized Design of Experiment (DoE) method, on the operating leveling line to validate both working hypoth- eses and adjustment proposals.
- The collection of measured data and the development of a predicting model (or digital twin) for the leveling line.
- A thorough analysis of this model and the results from different perspectives, enabling validation of its operation, performance, and identification of its real limits.
- A proposal for a pre-setting calculation method for the line, capable of covering the current production of steel coils.
Through numerous discussions with the production teams, skill transfers, and pragmatic recommendations aimed at enhancing and sustaining the expertise of PATURLE ACIERS SA, we believe we have contributed to the stability of performance and the autonomy of the teams responsible for this critical leveling process.
What Mr. Nicolas BROCHU, Industrial Methods Manager at PATURLE ACIERS SA, says about CLECIM:
“In conclusion, we are extremely satisfied with the work done by CLECIM, as it has allowed us to improve our leveling process, sus- tain the quality of leveling, particularly at the Coil Set level, and fa- cilitate the transfer of knowledge to the new operators trained on this equipment.
A tension leveling line is designed to correct rolling defects in coils and adjust the material’s physical parameters to meet the highest quality standards. It is used for a wide variety of coil materials, such as high and low carbon steel, nickel steel alloys, stainless steel, and special alloys.
When flatness is the key parameter for the application, the multi-roll leveling process reduces the internal stress of the strip and ensures perfect flatness.
Visuals: plan a photo shoot of the CLECIM SAS team in front of the leveling machine at the test mill (CLECIM SAS factory) + photo of the PATURLE ACIERS team below.
A Successful First Participation for the IES Team of CLECIM SAS at the Business Hydro 2024 Meetings!
The IES – Industrial Engineering Solutions team of CLECIM SAS had the honor of participating for the first time as an exhibitor at the 9th edition of the Business Hydro Meetings, held on October 8th and 9th, 2024, in Grenoble.
As a new player in the hydraulic energy sector and a member of the Hydro 21 association, our team proudly presented its partnership with John Cockerill, a renovation and refurbishment project of a hydraulic valve at a French dam on behalf of EDF Hydro.
This event was a great opportunity to establish valuable contacts and exchange enriching experiences, both with exhibitors and visitors. We had the chance to meet key players such as procurement managers, maintenance leaders, and project managers from major contractors.
Our discussions with major turbine manufacturers and our peers allowed us to address the needs for machining large parts, paving the way for promising future consultations.
A first participation that looks very promising for the future of CLECIM SAS in the hydropower sector!
