Then the two lines of slabs are shuttled into one, and the single line passes through a second descaler, prior to the edger. A hydraulic vertical edger customises the width for every slab. It creates excellent edge geometry to demanding tolerances and uniform mechanical properties, from edge to edge. The roughing mill is unique for a complex of this kind. The hydraulically controlled mill reduces slab thickness from 70 to 35 mm in a single high-speed pass.
Slab temperature is critical for steel quality.
Dimensional control and physical properties are all influenced by temperature. Then a third descaler cleans the slabs to maintain surface integrity. Automation systems monitor the process 840 times a second. Features include hydraulic automatic gage control, hydraulic loopers, thermal crown control, roll bending and roll shifting. A water wall cooling system provides quick, even cooling from edge to edge of the steel.