Abstract: A method for processing a siliceous, hot-rolled steel sheet for producing an electric steel strip, wherein the steel sheet contains more than 1.5% parts by weight of silicon. The method may include conducting a surface treatment in a device for removing oxide layers from a surface of the steel sheet to produce a cleaned steel sheet, and conducting a heat treatment of the cleaned steel sheet after the surface treatment in a hot-rolled strip annealing plant in an inert gas atmosphere. The surface treatment for removing the oxide layers may be carried out mechanically, without chemical descaling. The heat treatment of the cleaned steel sheet is carried out subsequent to the surface treatment.

Abstract: A method for processing a siliceous may include providing the steel sheet in a strip-type state, conducting a heat treatment for producing a non-grain-oriented electric steel strip, and moving the steel sheet through an annealing plant with a heating region, a holding region and a cooling region in a continuous process during the heat treatment. The steel sheet may be moved in the annealing plant in a vertical conveying direction. The steel sheet may be moved in the annealing plant from a furnace entry region arranged in a lower end region of the annealing plant via deflection rollers arranged in an upper end region of the annealing plant to a furnace exit region arranged in the lower end region of the annealing plant. The heating region and the holding region may extend between the furnace entry region and the deflection rollers.