Abstract: A system for pickling hot rolled carbon steel strip with hydrochloric acid completely and uniformly in optimum time. The system consists of a series of cells made up of a number of section modules, each having a straight narrow passageway with monolithic top and bottom walls through which the strip and pickling liquor travels and a pair of cooperative conduits in the top and bottom walls for introducing the fluid into the passageway. A wringer roll assembly with motor driven wringer rolls push the strip through each cell and consists of a housing having walls closely spaced to the rolls and a sealing element in the walls for the concentration of acid in each individual cell. The rate of pickling on the strip is increased due to the turbulence of the circulating pickling liquor within each cell, the higher temperatures, and the high concentration in each cell; the latter two of which are due to the design of the section modules.