Abstract: A precision-rolling process for producing rolled stock in bar or wire form while maintaining tight shape and size tolerances is characterized, for the purpose of providing good accessibility to the roll stands, by the combination of the following features: rolling of the stock in at least one two-high roll stand with an open pass, starting from any desired cross section, to form rolled stock which is polygonal, in particular tetragonal, in cross section, guiding the rolled stock over a predetermined distance along one or more longitudinal edges and/or along those surfaces of the rolled stock which adjoin longitudinal edges, to a further roll stand, and subsequent rolling to form rolled stock which is circular in cross section in at least one closed pass, in which rolling forces act on and deform the rolling stock in a star shape from at least three directions.

Abstract: A process for producing liquid pig iron or liquid steel preproducts and sponge iron from iron ore. The iron ore in a first reduction zone (4) is directly reduced to sponge iron. The sponge iron in a meltdown gasifying zone (10) is melted under the supply of carbon carriers and an oxygen-containing gas, and a reducing gas containing CO and H.sub.2 is produced. The reducing gas is introduced into the first reduction zone (4), is reacted there, and is drawn off as an export gas. The drawn-off export gas is subjected to CO.sub.2 elimination as well as heating, and as a reducing gas, at least largely free of CO.sub.2, is fed to at least one further reduction zone (29) for the direct reduction of iron ore. In order to enable the export gas drawn off the further reduction zone (29) to be utilized as completely as possible, heat of the export gas leaving the further reduction zone (29) is used for heating the export gas derived from the first reduction zone (4).

Abstract: A converter for the production of steel from solid and/or liquid charging substances, such as pig iron and/or scrap and/or sponge iron, includes a refractorily lined refining vessel, a refining device for feeding oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas, and a heating device. In order to obtain the maximum output possible at high scrap charging as well as a high purity of the steel, the heating device includes at least one self-consuming graphite electrode and the refining device, independent of the heating device, either is formed by an oxygen-blowing lance or includes oxygen-containing bottom and/or lateral tuyeres located below the melt bath level.