Semi-Continuous Mills
This technology, which became outdated when continuous casting displaced ingot pouring, was a rolling mill function that compensated for the problem of a large billet forming a coil so quickly that the subsequent operations could not keep up with the mill’s output. Breakdown was accomplished on a three-high roughing mill followed by several paired straightaway stands next to a repeater and a finishing stand. This method had the advantage of reducing the stock section by free rolling in the three-high to a section suitable for continuous rolling at moderate finishing speeds.