Rolling Mill

In the rolling process, cast billets are transformed into a variety of high quality products through a complex heating and rolling process.

The billets are heated to a specific temperature for the grade of steel being produced. This is accomplished by the use of a computer controlled, natural gas fired, pusher type reheat furnace that heats the billets to an average rolling temperature of 2150 degrees Fahrenheit.

The reheated billets are fed into a continuous rolling mill consisting of a 6-stand rougher, 4-stand intermediate, and a 4-stand finishing mill. Here the billets are progressively squeezed, reduced, and lengthened, developing the required strength of the steel and producing its final shape. As the steel moves through a series of roll stands, its section decreases and it moves faster and faster. Finished products include flats, channels, angles, and beams.

The finished sections are sheared on the fly, and delivered onto an automatic cooling bed. Here the bars are control cooled to proper in-line straightening temperatures.

During cooling, the finished steel bars and structural shapes are walked by a series of rakes across the cooling bed. Once off the cooling bed, the steel is straightened, sheared to final length, stacked and banded, tagged and loaded onto trucks or rail cars for final shipment.

Product quality is of utmost importance throughout the rolling process. Careful attention to details and regular sample inspection ensure finished product will meet customer specifications. Quality Assurance technicians also aid in the overall quality process by auditing random samples for compliance to requirements.