Abstract: A method of improving the productivity and yield of a reversing plate mill comprises installing coiler furnaces on the upstream and downstream sides of the mill. Thereafter, a supply of extra large slabs as well as a supply of pattern slabs for the mill are provided. The plate requirements for the next horizon period are analyzed and for each size plate, a decision is made (i) to process extra large size slabs, or (ii) to process pattern slabs, or (iii) a combination of both extra large and pattern slabs to supply the plate requirements. The slabs are then processed in accordance with the particular decision.

Abstract: A method of underwinding strip on a drum along the passline of a hot reversing mill comprises positioning the drum in a receiving mode, passing the strip through the mill at a given thread speed, detecting the presence of the strip at a given position in relation to the drum, activating the drum in an underwinding direction at a given time delay representative of a distance in which the strip is through the drum slot and internal of the drum, and speed matching the drum and the strip in an initial surface winding mode and a subsequent center driven tension mode.

Abstract: A method of underwinding strip on a drum along the passline of a hot reversing mill comprises positioning the drum in a receiving mode, passing the strip through the mill at a given thread speed, detecting the presence of the strip at a given position in relation to the drum, activating the drum in an underwinding direction at a given time delay representative of a distance in which the strip is through the drum slot and internal of the drum, and speed matching the drum and the strip in an initial surface winding mode and a subsequent center driven tension mode.

Abstract: A processing line for rolling metal slabs into strip thicknesses along a substantially horizontal pass line includes the utilization of an intermediate mill formed of an upstream coiler furnace and a pair of coiler furnaces downstream of a reversing mill where the downstream coiler furnaces are in vertical alignment with one above the pass line and the other below the pass line. The method of rolling includes reducing a transfer bar in the reversing mill and coiling it in one of the downstream coiler furnaces. The coil is then passed back through the reversing mill into the upstream coiler furnace. Thereafter, the coil passes through the reversing mill for the third time and is again coiled in one of the downstream coiler furnaces. The coil is then uncoiled and directed into the finishing train while a subsequent coil is processed in the reversing mill utilizing the empty downstream coiler furnace. The rolling of the workpiece through the intermediate mill is done independent of the finishing train.