The Material Works, Ltd. (TMW) and SMS Siemag AG (SMS) announced Thursday that they have entered into an agreement whereby SMS may offer, design, build and install processing lines incorporating Eco Pickled Surface (EPS) Cells for descaling carbon and stainless coiled strip steel. Under terms of this agreement, TMW, or one of its designated manufacturers of EPS Cells, will supply completed cells and associated technical and support services to SMS for integration into SMS strip pickling lines anywhere in the world.
SMS Siemag AG is an SMS Group company which, within the structure of SMS Holding GmbH, consists of a group of global leaders in machinery and plant construction for steel and nonferrous metals processing. Its workforce of more than 13,800 employees generates worldwide sales of EUR 3.5 billion. SMS Siemag's solutions emphasize minimizing the impact on the environment, such as consuming less energy and producing lower emissions or waste products. Many of these solutions are implemented as upgrades or retrofits to existing production lines.
The EPS process is an environmentally friendly replacement for acid pickling of hot rolled steel strip developed by TMW of Red Bud, Illinois. This patented process removes the mill scale (oxide) from the surface of hot rolled steel, imparting a very clean, uniform surface. Unlike acid pickling, the EPS process uses no hazardous substances to accomplish its 'pickling'--just ordinary water and fine steel grit - which are recirculated for continuous use. The process also leaves the steel inherently rust resistant, so it does not require the oil film that is applied to acid pickled steel to prevent rusting.