Rolling Mill
| Safety +
Quality + Attitude = Performance |
 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.
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