ABB has secured two major orders from Southwest Aluminum (Group) Co., Ltd. to provide integrated automation, process control, and smart manufacturing solutions for two high-end aluminum cold rolling projects in China. The projects will support Southwest Aluminum’s expansion and modernization of its wide-strip aluminum production capabilities, with both production lines expected to be fully commissioned and operational by the end of 2027.

The two projects involve a 2,500 mm two-stand six-high aluminum cold rolling mill and a 3,000 mm single-stand six-high cold rolling mill. Through the integration of industrial automation systems, drive technologies, precision measurement, and digital manufacturing solutions, ABB aims to help improve production stability, rolling accuracy, equipment availability, and overall operational efficiency.

Two Advanced Aluminum Cold Rolling Projects to Strengthen Production Capabilities

Southwest Aluminum, headquartered in Chongqing, is a subsidiary of Aluminum Corporation of China (Chinalco) and an important manufacturer of high-performance aluminum materials in China.

The latest projects form part of the company's ongoing investment in upgrading its wide-strip aluminum production facilities. As demand for high-quality aluminum materials continues to grow across industries such as aerospace, transportation, automotive manufacturing, and advanced industrial applications, manufacturers are placing greater emphasis on dimensional accuracy, surface quality, production consistency, and process reliability.

The two six-high cold rolling mills are designed to address these demanding production requirements. The 2,500 mm twin-stand mill and 3,000 mm single-stand mill will adopt integrated automation and digital technologies to support more consistent rolling operations and improved production management.

ABB to Deliver Integrated Automation and Process Control Technologies

A key part of ABB's project scope is the ABB Ability™ System 800xA® distributed control system (DCS), which will provide the automation and process control foundation for both cold rolling mills.

In addition to the control system, ABB will supply a range of technologies covering:

• Industrial Drives: Supporting controlled mill operation and coordinated equipment performance.

• Flatness Control: Helping maintain aluminum strip flatness and improve product consistency.

• Sensing and Measurement Technologies: Providing important process data for monitoring and controlling rolling operations.

• Process Automation: Integrating equipment and production processes within a common control architecture.

• Digital Manufacturing Solutions: Connecting production, quality, and equipment information to support operational analysis.

The use of common automation standards across both projects is another important aspect of the cooperation. A standardized control architecture can improve system compatibility, provide a more consistent operating environment, and simplify future maintenance and spare-parts management.

For aluminum rolling operations, where thickness deviation, strip flatness, and process stability directly influence final product quality, reliable automation and accurate measurement technologies play an essential role in maintaining production performance.

Smart Manufacturing and Data Analytics for Better Mill Performance

Beyond conventional industrial automation, the two projects will also incorporate ABB Ability™ Smart Manufacturing Solution for Cold Rolling Mill.

The digital solution is designed to integrate production, quality, and equipment data, giving operators and maintenance teams better visibility into mill performance. This information can support more informed decisions regarding process parameters, product quality, and equipment condition.

ABB will also deploy its ABB Ability™ History industrial time-series data management platform to collect and store high-frequency process data. The platform will support the analysis of key rolling parameters, including strip thickness deviation and flatness.

Another important element is ABB's Golden Coil analysis methodology. By analyzing relationships between operating conditions and production results, the methodology can help identify and replicate operating practices associated with improved product quality, productivity, material yield, and energy consumption.

The digital solution will additionally integrate condition monitoring, drive performance analysis, and hydraulic diagnostics. These capabilities are intended to support earlier fault identification, predictive maintenance, and more effective maintenance planning.

By bringing automation, measurement, and data analytics together, the projects aim to provide a more comprehensive approach to managing cold rolling mill operations.

Long-Term Cooperation Between ABB and Southwest Aluminum

The latest orders further extend the long-standing relationship between ABB and Southwest Aluminum, which dates back to 1988.

According to ABB, the new projects build on the experience gained through years of cooperation in aluminum production. Cold rolling requires a high level of process stability, control accuracy, and equipment availability. Applying a common automation architecture and advanced digital analysis across the two mills is expected to provide a stronger foundation for long-term operational optimization.

Both production lines are expected to be fully commissioned and operational by the end of 2027.

The projects also demonstrate the increasing role of integrated industrial automation and smart manufacturing technologies in the aluminum processing industry. As manufacturers pursue higher product quality, improved production efficiency, and more reliable equipment operation, the combination of process control, drive systems, precision measurement, and industrial data analytics is becoming increasingly important.

Industry Outlook: Digitalization Continues to Shape Aluminum Manufacturing

The cooperation between ABB and Southwest Aluminum reflects a broader development in the metals industry: the transition from individual equipment automation toward integrated production and digital manufacturing systems.

For aluminum producers, the ability to monitor production conditions, analyze process data, and coordinate equipment operation can contribute to more consistent product quality and better utilization of manufacturing resources.

With two new high-end cold rolling projects underway, Southwest Aluminum is advancing its production capabilities through the adoption of integrated automation and digital technologies. ABB's involvement highlights the importance of industrial control systems, intelligent drive solutions, and data-driven manufacturing in the modernization of aluminum processing facilities.

As the projects move toward commissioning in 2027, their implementation will provide another example of how advanced automation technologies can support the development of high-performance aluminum manufacturing.