Abstract: In the manufacture of hot-rolled steel strip, a continuous casting machine casts a slab and a roll stand for reducing the thickness of the slab to make strip is incorporated in line with the continuous casting machine. Advantages of simplicity and rolling quality are obtained when the roll stand is a two-high roll stand having a single pair of rolls. Where there is a reheater for reheating the strip after its rolling in the two-high roll-stand, the two-high roll stand is the sole apparatus for reducing the thickness of the slab after full solidification of the slab and prior to entry of the strip into the reheater.

Abstract: In the manufacture of formable steel in the form of a strip with a final thickness of between 0.5 and 1.5 mm, in a number of continuous successive process stages, molten steel is continuously cast into a slab of less than 100 mm thickness and the slab is rolled into the strip. To simplify the apparatus required, and improve process control, the slab is cooled down to a rolling temperature of between 300.degree. C. and a temperature T.sub.t at which at least 75% of the material is converted into ferrite, and the rolling of the slab into strip comprises at least one reduction stage with a thickness reduction of over 30%. The rolling exit speed is less than 1000 m/min. After recrystallization, the strip is coiled.