Abstract: A system for processing steel strips in a hot strip mill includes an apparatus and method for removing the oxide layer in the finishing mill process such that the final thickness of the oxide layer is much less than previously possible. In order to reduce the thickness of the oxide layer, the invention provides for the removal of oxide scales from the surface of the steel strips at a distance in front of the working rolls of the finishing mill that minimizes the time the strip is exposed to ambient conditions after it is descaled and before it is received between the pair of working rolls. By minimizing this exposure time, the thickness of the oxide layers in the finished strips is substantially reduced.