Abstract: An apparatus for pre-processing a stainless steel to be cold-rolled comprising: annealing and pickling means having a mechanical descaling device and a pickling device; rolling means consisting of rolls arranged to be two or more stages; and means capable of applying liquid lubricant at a thin thickness to a work roll of the rolling means.

Abstract: A method of pre-processing a stainless steel strip to be cold-processed comprising the steps of: annealing and pickling the stainless steel strip after completing hot rolling; applying liquid lubricant with a thickness of 1 .mu.m or less to the surfaces of rolls before the rolls come into contact with the stainless steel strip; and rolling the stainless steel strip at a reduction ratio exceeding 5%. An apparatus for pre-processing a stainless steel to be cold-rolled comprising: annealing and picking means having a mechanical descaling device and a pickling device; rolling means consisting of rolls arranged in two or more stages; and means capable of applying liquid lubricant in a thin layer to a work roll of the rolling means.

Abstract: A process of producing cold rolled stainless steel strip, according to the invention, includes preliminary treatment for hot rolled stainless steel strip, in which preliminary treatment, hot rolled stainless steel strip is, at first, treated through annealing and picking process and is subsequently subject cold rolling without introducing rolling mill lubricant at a reduction of more than 5%. The process of preliminary treatment for preparation of cold rolling is useful for producing high surface brightness cold rolled stainless steel strip, which can achieve both of satisfactory quality and high efficiency.