Abstract: Apparatus for the production and heat treatment of coiled elongated metal product of relatively small cross section, such as rods, bars and wire-rod material, is described. The elements required for the conduct of a variety of heat treatments can be performed on coiled product in a substantially continuous manner through the use of a ring conveyor with which the coilers of various process lines and a heat treating furnace communicate. Methods for performing various heat treatments using the described apparatus are also disclosed.

Abstract: An integrated plant for the production of elongated product of relatively small cross section, such as bars and rods, contains an automated system for the administration of rolling mill operation. The system provides for the stand-by storage of mill stands and by-pass tables in proximity to the mill roll pass line. Relatively fixed mill stand transfer devices operate to transfer mill stands to be changed between the mill roll pass line and movable quick change tables intermediate the mill roll pass line and the storage area, and mobile transfer devices operate to move mill stands between the quick change tables and the storage area.

Abstract: Method to transform a rolling mill in order to revamp an old-type rolling line (10) fed by slabs with a thickness greater than 160 mm and arriving from an accumulation store (12) and to insert a segment of new line comprising at least a continuous casting machine (19) to produce thin and medium slabs, with attached relative operating assemblies such as extraction, straightening, shearing devices etc., the old line (10) comprising a roughing unit with one or more stands and a terminal segment (21) with a finishing train (15), a cooling area (17), systems to collect the product (18a, 18b) etc., the segment of new line (110) being achieved and installed in a position near the old line (10) while the old line (10) continues working, the segment of new line (110) being equipped substantially at the terminal end with a movable element (120) in order to be at least temporarily connected to the terminal end (21) of the old line (10).

Abstract: Gravitational type furnace for the direct reduction of mineral iron comprising a median reaction zone (14) in which the reactions to reduce the mineral iron occur, means (11) to feed the mineral iron to said reaction zone (14), means (18) to introduce a mixture of reducing gas into said reaction zone (14) and means (15) to discharge the reduced metal iron, said discharge means comprising at least two extremities (15a-15c), shaped like a cone or a truncated cone, with the taper facing downwards, each of which being provided with a corresponding lower aperture (16a-16c) through which said reduced metal iron can be selectively discharged in a controlled and independent manner.

Abstract: The method and apparatus is directed toward an annealing furnace and a method of using the same where the annealing furnaces includes a layer forming apparatus suitable to create layers of metal product; an insulated housing having an interior cavity formed by a roof, a floor, opposing side walls extending the annealing furnace length, opposing side walls extending the annealing furnace width, said insulated housing also having an entrance for introducing metal product and exit for discharging metal product; a heating means in the interior cavity for heat treating metal product; transportation device suitable to convey the metal product in form of layers from the chamber entrance to its exit, whereas to guarantee a stay time inside said furnace suitable for obtaining a required heat treatment; and a discharging apparatus suitable to break up the product layers.

Abstract: Plant and method to produce strip (11), starting from thin slabs (29) produced by a continuous casting plant (12), whereby the thin slab (29) undergoes at least one descaling step followed by a roughing step and a finishing step before being wound in coils, the mould being subjected to an oscillation action the conformation of which is at least partly correlated with the casting parameters (at least the speed, temperature and complex structure of the steel), and whereby the thin slab (29) leaving the crystalliser of the continuous casting plant (12) has a thickness between 70 and 100 mm. and travels at a speed between 2 and 10 metres per minute, the thin slab (29), before the roughing rolling step, staying at least in a furnace (16) at least maintaining the temperature of the slab (29) for a period correlated at least with the characteristics of the surface defects of the thin slab (29), the roughing rolling step being carried out at an outgoing speed of about 1.

Abstract: Method to obtain in the cold state single finished sections (11) from substantially cold single multi-section elements (12) produced by hot rolling, extrusion or drawing, the single multi-section element (12) consisting of at least two finished sections (11) (angle irons, angle irons with unequal sides, Z-sections, T-sections, flats, etc.) positioned side by side and connected together lengthwise along the terminal part of an edge, the sections (11) being separated by a web (21), the cold single multi-section element (12) being positioned and undergoing the splitting of the web (21) from the sections (11), the edges of the finished sections (11) facing the web (21) after splitting being subjected to a re-gauging operation, the finished sections (11) being then straightened and made linear at the same time.