Continuous process optimization is an important step in keeping a rolling mill competitive. An essential aspect is the availability of the mill and how quickly a new product geometry can be set after a product change within the desired tolerances. During the rolling process, tolerance deviations, which occur due to tool wear, have to be compensated without interrupting the rolling process. For hot rolling mills with a Finishing Block, SMS group has developed an automatic roll gap adjustment under load. Existing stands can be retrofitted with this improvement in short time and with reasonable effort. This allows the stands to be adjusted to the desired roll position by electric motors under load. This functionality allows the product geometry to be set within rolling of the first billet without manual intervention on the mill stand.
Customer challenges addressed
- Real-time roll gap adjustment under load
- Minimizes downtime in rolling process
- Enhances product quality and consistency
- Reduces wear and maintenance needs
- Improves operational efficiency
- Supports high-quality steel strip production