ABB Wins Two Cold Rolling Mill Orders
ABB will supply automation and digital technologies for two cold rolling mills being built by Southwest Aluminum in China.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Manufacturing
ABB has secured two orders from Southwest Aluminum (Group) Co., Ltd., headquartered in Chongqing, China, to supply automation and digital technologies for cold rolling mills. The projects are part of Southwest Aluminum's expansion and upgrade of wide-strip aluminum production.
Why it matters
The orders extend a working relationship between ABB and Southwest Aluminum that dates to 1988 and reflect continued investment in upgraded wide-strip aluminum production capacity. Standardized control systems across both mills are intended to simplify operation and analysis of the plants.
ABB secured two orders covering a 2,500 mm two-stand six-high cold rolling mill and a 3,000 mm single-stand six-high cold rolling mill. The financial value of the orders was not disclosed.
The players
ABB
ABB is a global technology company specializing in electrification, robotics, automation and motion, with industrial automation and digital offerings used across manufacturing sectors.
Southwest Aluminum (Group) Co., Ltd.
Southwest Aluminum is a Chongqing-based Chinese aluminum producer whose wide-strip aluminum production is being expanded and upgraded.
The details
ABB will deploy its ABB Ability System 800xA distributed control system and ABB Ability Smart Manufacturing Solution on both mills, using common control standards and a standardized automation architecture. ABB Ability History will collect and store high-frequency process data for analysis.
Timeline
November 2, 2026: ABB's announcement of the Southwest Aluminum orders was published.
End of 2027: The mills are expected to be fully commissioned and operational.
Market Landscape
The orders place ABB within the upgrade cycle of wide-strip aluminum production in China, where producers are expanding cold rolling capacity and modernizing control systems. The deal continues a relationship between the two companies that has lasted since 1988.
For consumers, the orders have no direct effect on pricing or product availability in the near term. The commissioning of the mills by 2027 may affect the supply of wide-strip aluminum used in downstream manufacturing.
The takeaway
Industrial automation upgrades like these show how legacy aluminum producers modernize plants through long-term supplier relationships and standardized control platforms.
What happens next
The mills are expected to be fully commissioned and operational by the end of 2027.
Further reading
For more on factory automation trends, see Manufacturing.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Industry Europe.
