Abstract: A plant is provided for chemical treatment of a surface of a material strip, particularly for pickling and/or rinsing the material strips, such as metal strips. At least one treatment stage includes guide rollers and squeezing rollers for the metal strip. The metal strip is run out of the chemical treatment plant (e.g., pickling plant) as close to the central position as possible so that a subsequent steering roller may operate without substantial difficulty. At least two rollers or two roller pairs, with one roller above and one roller below the metal strip, run in adjustable bearings on at least one side of the longitudinal axis of the plant. The adjustable bearings are synchronized with and parallel with the running direction of the metal strip. The adjustable roller assembly follows at least one treatment stage.

Abstract: A pickling tank for the continuous treatment of a steel strip includes a pickling trough and a recovery tank separated from one another by a linkage that allows for limited movement between the trough and recovery tank. The recovery tank includes a pair of press rollers to remove pickling solution from the steel strip. The linkage includes a chute extending from the trough to the recovery tank to contain the pickling solution while allowing for differences between thermal expansion between the pickling trough and recovery tank. In one embodiment, the chute is coupled to the pickling trough and has a free end inserted into the recovery tank. In a second embodiment, the chute includes two telescoping members extending between the trough and recovery tank.