Abstract: The present invention discloses a specifically designed pretreatment cell. This pretreatment cell consists of a tank having an entry end and an exit end. A metal web is introduced into the tank proximate the entry end and removed from the tank proximate the exit end. In between, three submergence rollers force a portion of the web into a pretreatment solution housed by the tank. These submergence rollers are placed such that the center roller penetrates deeper into the tank than the other two. Weirs are incorporated to raise or lower the level of the fluid and thereby modifying the length of the portion of the strip that is submerged in the fluid. Within the tank, a counterflow nozzle directs the pretreatment solution along the metal web in a direction opposite to the direction in which the web is running. An supply nozzle is also provided to deliver fluid into the tank. Attached to the tank there are also one or more removal areas.