Abstract: A coating system and method of using same for coating a hot rolling strip coil, such as zinc coating of steel strip, is disclosed. The coating system includes sequentially arranged coil uncoilers, a strip welder, a pickling tank, a heating and deoxidizing furnace, a coating pot, and a coiler. A rolling mill with at least one cold rolling mill stand is interposed between the pickling tank and the heating and deoxidizing furnace. In certain operations with hot rolling strip coil having a larger than desired thickness, the cold rolling mill is operated to reduce the strip material thickness. In operations where the strip material is of proper desired thickness, the strip material is passed through the cold rolling mill without carrying out cold rolling. The system and method accommodate a single coating line usable with a wide variety of hot rolled strip material and finish coated material thicknesses.