A Complete Beginner's Guide to Galvanized Coil Slitting Lines

A galvanized coil slitting line cuts big galvanized steel coils. It makes them into smaller strips. Many industries use these strips. These lines are very important in cars, building, making appliances, and clean energy. The car industry uses the most, with 34%. Construction and appliances come next. The chart below shows how each industry uses these lines:

Lihao Machine Product Page

Industry

Percentage of Total Usage

Key Applications and Notes

Key Takeaways

·Galvanized coil slitting lines cut big steel coils into smaller strips. These strips are used in cars, buildings, and home appliances. These machines use automation and careful controls to make good strips fast. This saves time and cuts down on waste. Keeping the right tension and checking quality stops damage. It also makes sure strips are smooth and correct for better products. Picking the best slitting line depends on coil size and material. It also depends on how much you need to make and what automation you want. This helps your business reach its goals. Doing regular maintenance and following safety rules keeps the slitting line working well. It also keeps workers safe and helps things run better.

What Is a Galvanized Coil Slitting Line

Purpose and Use

A galvanized coil slitting line helps cut big metal coils into smaller strips. First, you put a master coil on the machine. The line unwinds the metal and flattens it. Then, rotary knives cut the metal into thin strips. Each strip is the right width for your next job. The machine rolls up these strips into smaller coils. You can use these coils for rolling, welding, bending, or punching.

A galvanized coil slitting line works with many metals. It can handle galvanized steel, cold rolled steel, stainless steel, and aluminum. The table below lists some common materials:

Material Category

Examples Included

Steel Coils

Galvanized plate, cold rolled sheet, color coated sheet, pickled plate

Non-ferrous Metals

Tinplate, copper plate, aluminum strip

Specialty Steel Sheets

Silicon steel sheet, stainless steel sheet

This machine uses high automation. It has PLC and HMI controls. These controls make it easy to use and fast. You can change the blade settings for different sizes and metals. The system also keeps the right tension and collects scrap. This gives you clean and accurate strips every time.

Tip: A galvanized coil slitting line saves time and work. You can finish more coils faster and make fewer mistakes.

Importance in Industry

You will see galvanized coil slitting lines in many places. They are important in cars, building, electrical, and packaging. For example, slit coils help make car doors, roofing, transformer cores, and food cans. Here are some common uses:

• Construction: roofing sheets, wall panels, ceiling tiles
• Automotive: door frames, seat brackets, fenders
• Electrical: transformer cores, motor laminations
• Packaging: metal cans and containers
• Other uses: animal tags, brush making, roll-forming, springs, HVAC parts, appliance parts

A galvanized coil slitting line makes your work faster. The line can run without stopping a lot. You can change blades quickly and use automatic controls to switch jobs fast. The table below shows how these features help your work:

Feature Category

Description

Impact on Production Efficiency

You also get better products for your customers. New slitting lines can cut very close to the right size, within ±0.1 mm. Automation and real-time checks help stop mistakes and save material. The chart below shows how automation lowers labor costs and mistakes:

When you use a galvanized coil slitting line, you get better products, more output, and lower costs. You also help make work safer and greener.

Process Overview

Step-by-Step Workflow

A galvanized coil slitting line transforms large galvanized steel coils into precise, narrow strips. You can follow these steps to understand how the process works from start to finish:

1. Load the Coil: Place the galvanized coil onto the coil car. The car moves the coil into position for the next step.
2. Uncoil and Flatten: The hydraulic decoiler holds the coil and unwinds it. The pinch roll flattens the coil head and feeds it forward.
3. Prepare the Strip: The strip passes through a leveling section. This step ensures the metal is flat and ready for slitting.
4. Trim the Edges: A trimming shear removes any rough or uneven edges from the leading end of the strip.
5. Guide to Slitter: The lifting roller table guides the strip to the slitting blades.
6. Slit the Coil: The main slitter uses rotary knives to cut the coil into strips of the required width.
7. Collect Scrap: The scrap winder gathers the trimmed edges and scrap material.
8. Tension and Separation: The slit strips pass through a separator and tension station. This keeps each strip straight and prevents tangling.
9. Recoil the Strips: The recoiler winds each strip into a new, smaller coil. The support arm helps keep the coils aligned.
10. Inspect and Bundle: Operators check the width and thickness of each strip. They bundle and unload the finished coils for packaging and shipping.

Note: Modern slitting lines use hydraulic, pneumatic, and electronic controls. These systems help you achieve high precision and efficiency at every step.

You can see how different slitting lines compare in speed and capacity. The table below shows typical line speeds and thickness capabilities:

Parameter

AlphaCo HG-25

BetaCut ProSeries

GammaSlit Ultra

Max Thickness

22 mm

25 mm

20 mm

Line Speed

400 m/min

350 m/min

420 m/min

Some heavy-duty lines can process up to 120 metric tons per hour. Industry leaders offer maximum speeds up to 800 meters per minute, much higher than the industry average of 600 meters per minute.

Quality and Tension Control

You must pay close attention to quality and tension control during slitting. These factors protect the galvanized coating and ensure each strip meets your standards.

• Operators set the slitting knives with great care. You must match the knife position to the desired strip width, material thickness, and knife diameter.
• Proper tension settings on both the uncoiler and recoiler are critical. If you set the tension too high, the steel may stretch or break. If you set it too low, the coil may telescope or collapse, causing jams and scrap.
• Tension stands help keep the coil tight. You can use pad, roll-pad, bridle roll, or roll tension stands. Roll tension stands work well for galvanized steel because they move with the strip and reduce surface damage.
• The material of the tension rolls matters. Nonwoven synthetic covers grip the strip and prevent scratches. Polyurethane rolls suit clean, dry materials but may cause damage if debris sticks.
• Hold-down rolls, also called snubber rolls, keep the outer coil lap tight. This prevents the coil from loosening and scratching the inner wraps.
• Precision-ground recoiler drums help you avoid reel marks and keep the coil surface smooth.
• Overarm supports must be balanced and aligned. Poor alignment can cause grooves or marks on the coil.

Tip: Always check the coil sidewall for movement. A marked line helps you spot improper tension right away.

If you do not control tension properly, you may face several problems:

• The coil can stretch, break, or develop wavy edges.
• You may see edge damage, bending, or crimping.
• Low tension can cause vibration marks and surface defects.
• These issues increase scrap, slow down production, and create safety hazards.

To maintain high quality, you should:

• Feed the strip straight and evenly into the knives.
• Inspect the slit width and thickness regularly.
• Monitor the process for burrs or edge waviness.
• Perform regular maintenance and sharpening of the knives.
• Use edge conditioning after slitting to remove burrs and smooth the edges. This step improves safety and gives your product a clean, uniform look.

A galvanized coil slitting line with proper tension and quality control delivers precise, high-quality strips. You can meet customer requirements and reduce waste by following these best practices.

Key Components

A galvanized coil slitting line has many main parts. Each part helps turn big steel coils into smaller strips. You need to know these parts to see how the system works.

Uncoiler (Decoiler)

The uncoiler holds and unwinds the heavy steel coil. You load the coil with a crane or forklift. The uncoiler grips the coil so it does not slip. It feeds the metal strip into the line. You can change the speed and tension to match the rest of the system. Safety features like brakes and guards keep you safe while working.

Aspect

Description

Tip: Always check if the coil is tight before you start.

Slitting Section

The slitting section uses rotary knives to cut the metal strip. You can move the knives to make different widths. Modern machines use strong blades for sharp cuts. Automation and real-time checks help you cut the right size and waste less.

Recoiler

The recoiler rolls up the slit strips into new coils. You need the recoiler to keep the right tension. This stops loose wraps and edge damage. Separator disks keep each strip in place. Tension stands and looping pits help with different strip sizes. Good tension means you get smooth coils ready to ship or use.

• Keeps tension even for good coils
• Stops strip damage and edge problems
• Makes tight, straight coil sides for easy moving

Entry Coil Car

The entry coil car moves the heavy coil into place for loading. You use this car to save time and avoid lifting by hand. It helps line up the coil, making the start safer and faster.

Support Equipment

Support equipment includes many helpful tools. You might use air knife systems to control zinc coating. Position control systems help you make small changes. Stabilization systems stop vibration. Hydraulic expansion slitters let you change blades quickly. Coil levelers and tension leveling tools make the metal flat and less stressed. Oscillating and rotary shears cut coils into blanks fast and accurately. Multi-blanking lines can slit and cut to length for more options.

Note: Each support tool helps you work faster, make better coils, and keep your slitting line running well.

Types and Applications

Line Variations

There are different types of galvanized coil slitting lines. Each type is made for certain metal thicknesses and properties. Manufacturers build these lines with special parts. Some parts are hydraulic loading coil cars and double support uncoilers. Others are leveling machines, trimming shears, and smart control systems. These features help you work with many coil sizes and materials.

The main types are based on how thick the coil is. You can look at the table below to see the most common types:

Type

Coil Thickness Range

Description

Some slitting lines are custom-made. These lines fit your needs for material, size, and speed. The blade strength and machine setup change for each metal. This lets you use galvanized steel, aluminum, stainless steel, and more.

Tip: Pick a slitting line that matches your coil thickness and how much you want to make. This helps you get the best results and saves money.

Industry Uses

Many industries use galvanized coil slitting lines. Each industry likes galvanized steel because it does not rust and is strong. Here are some common ways people use these lines:

• Automotive: Slit galvanized steel is used for car bodies, door beams, and chassis. Suppliers say they work faster and waste less when using custom slitting lines for strong steel.
• Construction: Builders use slit coils for steel frames, balconies, fences, roofs, and HVAC ductwork. Galvanized steel is great for outdoor and building parts because it does not rust.
• Energy: Wind and solar projects use hot-dipped galvanized steel for mounts and frames. These parts must last in bad weather.
• Agriculture: Farmers use galvanized steel for equipment that does not rust and lasts longer.
• Telecommunications: Companies use galvanized steel for wiring, equipment boxes, and towers. This means less fixing and longer use.
• Household Appliances: Makers use slit coils for sinks, refrigerators, washing machines, and small tools.
• Industrial Manufacturing: You can use slit coils for stamping, making electrical cabinets, metal furniture, and pipes for water, gas, or oil.

Note: If you pick the right slitting line, your business can help many industries and meet high quality rules.

Choosing a Galvanized Coil Slitting Line

Coil Size and Material

When you pick a galvanized coil slitting line, you need to match it to your coil’s size and material. The thickness, width, and weight of each coil matter. These things decide what kind of slitting line you need. Heavy gauge lines can cut coils up to 20 mm thick and 35 tons. Thin gauge lines work with coils as thin as 0.2 mm and lighter weights.

Model

Thickness Range (mm)

Coil Width Range (mm)

Coil Weight Range (tons)

Line Speed (m/min)

BELI-8*

8 – 10

For more Cut to Length Lineinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.

600 –

15 – 25

0 – 80

BELI-15*

15 – 20

600 –

25 – 35

0 – 30

You also need to think about what the coil is made of. Harder metals, like high-carbon steel, make blades wear out faster. But they give cleaner cuts. The way the coil was made and its structure can change how the edges look. It also affects how long your tools last. Always check if the machine can work with different metals, like stainless steel or aluminum. Make sure it can change for different thicknesses too.

Production Needs

Pick a slitting line that fits your work goals. Think about how much you cut each day and what kinds of jobs you do. Some lines cut faster and can handle bigger coils. Others are better for small, careful jobs.

Choose machines that are strong and work well. Make sure they can handle your coil sizes and weights. Doing regular checks and careful handling helps stop problems. You should also look at prices and ask for quotes from different sellers. Some sellers give deals for big orders or long contracts. If you work in a busy place, like Los Angeles County, pick a seller with a service center close by. This saves on shipping and gets you help faster.

Automation Features

New slitting lines use smart automation to help you work better. Sensors and AI systems check coating thickness, temperature, and find defects. These features mean less work for people and fewer mistakes.

• Automated lubrication keeps machines running well and stops rust.
• Real-time checks help you find problems early and fix them fast.
• Cameras and sensors look for coating problems, so your quality stays the same.
• Automation makes the line faster and lets you finish more work. This saves time and money.

Tip: Automation helps you make better products, lowers labor costs, and keeps your work going smoothly.

Safety and Maintenance

You must keep your slitting line safe and in good shape. Regular checks and cleaning help you find problems and stop breakdowns. Always oil moving parts and check tension sensors for good cuts.

1. Check and clean the uncoiler, slitter, and recoiler often.
2. Sharpen or change slitter knives to keep cuts neat.
3. Check if the machine is lined up right for smooth work.
4. Take care of electrical and hydraulic parts.
5. Wear safety gear and follow lockout/tagout rules when fixing things.
6. Make a maintenance plan to find problems early.
7. Adjust leveling rollers and guiding tables for each job.
8. Clean pinching tools to stop slipping.
9. Check the area at the end of each shift for dangers.

Note: Good safety and maintenance keep your workers safe and your slitting line working well.

Slitting line

Benefits

Efficiency

A galvanized coil slitting line helps you work faster. Automated systems let you finish more coils in less time. You do not need as many workers. One person can watch the whole line. This can lower labor costs by 20-30% in the first year. You can move workers to better jobs, like checking quality. Automated lines keep machines running longer and stop long breaks. You will see jobs like coil wrapping take half the time. These changes help you finish more work every day.

• Automated lines help you make up to 30% more than manual work.
• You need less space because automated systems are smaller.
• Robots do heavy or dangerous jobs, so work is safer.

Product Quality

A galvanized coil slitting line gives you good, steady results. Automation makes sure each strip is the right size and looks good. The system uses sensors to find problems early. You waste less metal and damage fewer coils. Machines handle the metal gently and carefully. Good packaging keeps your product safe when you ship or store it. Customers will see your products are better and more reliable.

• Automated lines lower damage and waste.
• You get better numbers for coil weight, size, and time.
• Good records help you track stock and improve your supply chain.

Flexibility

A modern slitting line lets you change orders fast. You can switch blade settings and coil sizes with little waiting. You can use many metals, like galvanized steel, aluminum, and stainless steel. Automation makes it easy to change thickness and width. This helps you work for more industries and meet special requests from customers.

Tip: Flexible slitting lines help you keep up when customer needs change.

Innovations and Trends

Automation

Modern galvanized coil slitting lines use more automation now. Makers add PLC control systems to make machines smarter and quicker. These systems let you control each step, from uncoiling to recoiling. You can set up jobs by tapping a screen. Automation helps stop mistakes and keeps the line working well. Some new lines have robots that load coils and change blades. This means you do not have to lift heavy things as much. You can spend more time checking the quality of your work.

Tip: Automated lines help you finish jobs faster and keep workers safe.

Many companies buy energy-saving lines to use less power. These lines help you save money on bills. Some factories use advanced automation to waste less and work faster. With these new systems, you can do more jobs and send products out on time.

Measurement Systems

Today’s slitting lines use special measurement systems. Sensors check the coating thickness and surface quality as you work. These sensors help you find problems early. If you see a defect, you can fix it before it causes waste.

• Modern lines use cameras and lasers to measure strip width and thickness.
• You get alerts if the coating is too thin or thick.
• Data from these systems helps you meet strict quality rules.

Note: Good measurement systems help you make strong products for cars, appliances, and buildings.

Safety Upgrades

Safety upgrades help protect you and your team at work. New slitting lines have better guards, emergency stops, and sensors. These features stop the machine if something is wrong. Workers also get more training on how to use machines safely.

• Machines now have lockout/tagout systems to stop accidents during repairs.
• Sensors can tell if a hand or tool is too close to moving parts.
• Some lines use covers to keep dust and fumes away from workers.

Many companies use low-emission systems and zinc slag recovery now. These upgrades help you work in a cleaner and safer place. As more factories care about safety and the environment, you get better tools to protect your team and the earth.

Now you know how a galvanized coil slitting line works. It turns big steel coils into exact strips for many uses. This machine helps you work faster and make better products. It also lets you change what you make more easily. Before you buy one, think about what your factory needs. You should talk to experts or sellers for advice. You can visit a factory or look up different machines. This helps you find the best one for your business.

Tip: Trying the machine yourself helps you choose the right one.

FAQ

What is the main purpose of a galvanized coil slitting line?

A galvanized coil slitting line cuts big steel coils into smaller strips. These strips are the right size for your work. Cutting coils this way saves time and cuts down on waste.

How do you maintain a slitting line for best performance?

You need to clean and check the machine often. Make sure to sharpen or change the knives when they get dull. Oil the moving parts so they work well. Always check the tension before you start a job. Taking care of the machine keeps it safe and working well.

Can you use a slitting line for different metals?

Yes, you can use the machine for many metals. It works with galvanized steel, stainless steel, aluminum, and copper. Always check the settings and blades before you change the metal.

What safety steps should you follow when operating a slitting line?

Wear your safety gear every time you use the machine. Keep your hands away from the moving parts. Follow lockout/tagout rules when fixing the machine. Use guards and emergency stops to stay safe. Make sure everyone knows how to use the machine safely.

How does automation improve the slitting process?

Automation helps you control how fast and tight the machine works. It also sets the blades in the right place. This means you make fewer mistakes and get better strips. Automated machines need fewer workers and help keep everyone safe.

BANDING LINES

Coil Banding Lines or Coil Packaging Lines are one in the same. Often we get customers overly focused on the speed of a slitting line. However, if you cannot handle the new slit coils efficiently, it’s of little value how fast you can slit the steel. To keep your slitting line productive, you must get the coils off the slitting line quickly and efficiently.

A coil banding line bands the newly slit steel coils for shipping. A banding line may be as simple as a two arm turnstile, a downlayer, a linier conveyor and conical roll table. In that application, the operator manually straps the steel coil and takes it away with a cantilever jib crane. Or, it may be a complex, fully automatic line with a four arm turnstile, an automatic banding station with a stacker, and an eight station carousel, a scale with UPC labeling and shrink wrapping all controlled by a PLC.

COIL PAINT LINES

A Coil Painting Line consists of multiple machines working in synchronization with each other to apply a color or finishing coat to a coil. Most coil coating lines are for high production use, processing many tons a month. The machines in a coil coating line are an uncoiler with a coil car, a shear and end welder, entry accumulator, brushing unit, hot water rinsing station to clean the surface of the material, air drying station, chemical coater, chemical drying machine, cooling roll, paint primer coating roll, paint primer oven, finish coating roll where the paint is applied, finishing oven, exit accumulator, usually a protective film applicator, an exit shear, and a recoiler with a coil car.

CORRECTIVE LEVELING

Corrective leveling is configured like a basic steel coil leveler. However the backups are fully adjustable to create bend in the rolls. A corrective leveler can reduce shape defects across the strip and remove the entire coil set. These levelers are 17 to 23 work rolls and have adjustable backups. Some may have a 5HI or 6HI configuration for surface-critical material such as painted or stainless steel.

See also Levelers and Flatteners

CUT-TO-LENGTH LINES or CTLs

A Cut-to-Length Line or CTL takes flat-rolled steel, or steel coils, unrolls it, levels it and cuts it to desired length as a sheet. Cut-to-Length lines are also known as blanking lines, level lines or shear lines.

Fifty years ago most steel sheet was purchased directly from the mills. However, it became more efficient to send the master coils to a service center where the material could be processed for the end user.

Cut-to-length lines or CTL lines can be start and stop, such as in heavy gauge metal processing which process materials up to 1″ thick. Alternatively, cut-to-length lines can operate as a free loop on lighter gauge materials up to 0.06″ thick. The basic parameters of cut-to-length lines (CTL Lines) are steel coil width, coil weight, material type, minimum and maximum thickness, tolerance, finished sheet length range and desired flatness.

Galaxie is one of the world’s largest dealers in used cut-to-length lines. Our cut-to-length line offerings include well-known brands such as: Herr Voss, ProEco, Delta Brands, Red Bud, Rowe, and Braner.

DOWNLAYERS

A Downlayer is usually the first part of a coil banding line that is designed to grab a metal coil off of a turnstile or a recoiler on a slitting line. The coil is either pushed onto the downlayer from a turnstile or a recoiler’s push off plate, or a newer design, such as a pick and place downlayer, will slide onto a turnstile to grab the slit coil. Once the slit coil is on the downlayer, the downlayer lays down flat so it is symmetrical with the banding line and then will discharge the coil down the rest of the line. Usually a downlayer is hydraulically operated.

EDGING LINES

An Edging Line is used to remove burr from slit coils or sheared bar. An edging line can be for cut to length material or coil to coil, some being oscillate wound coils. An edging line consists of an uncoiler and coil car, flattener, edge conditioning section that uses different sized dies to apply pressure on the edges of the material to create a new usually rounded, deburred edge, a mill stand, decamber section, and a shear or a recoiler at the end of the line. Popular edging line brands are Tishken, Cauffiel, and Gauer.

FLATTENERS

A Flattener is essential to coil processing. It is on the front end of a tube mill, pipe mill, spiral pipe mill, press, rollforming line, slitting line, or cut to length line to flatten the material before it is further processed. A coil flattener usually consists of three, five, or seven rolls. Material is flattened by removing stress from the material as it passes through each roll. Material is pressed from the top and bottom rolls until it is flat enough to process through the rest of the line. A flattener is different from a precision leveler because it usually only flattens the coil enough to be processed by removing cross bow or coil set. A precision leveler will achieve a more uniform “flatness” since they apply more pressure on the material with more rolls to remove more of the material’s stress.

GALVANIZING EQUIPMENT

Galvanizing is the process of applying a protective zinc coating to steel or iron, in order to prevent rusting. The term is derived from the name of Italian scientist Luigi Galvani. Although galvanization can be done with electrochemical and electrodeposition processes, the most common method in current use is hot-dip galvanization, in which steel parts are submerged in a bath of molten zinc. In industry, the term GI stands for galvanized iron, referring to a common galvanized steel used in many applications such as air ducts and trash cans.

LEVELERS AND FLATTENERS

Steel Coil Levelers fall into four categories:

Leveling is the process of straightening through a number of offset rolls, usually from 13 to 23, with a smaller diameter. Typically these machines are backed up with rolls behind the work rolls to minimize deflection.

Corrective Leveling is configured like a basic steel coil leveler. However the backups are fully adjustable to create bend in the rolls. A corrective leveler can reduce shape defects across the strip and remove the entire coil set. These levelers are 17 to 23 work rolls and have adjustable backups. Some may have a 5HI or 6HI configuration for surface-critical material such as painted or stainless steel.

Tension Leveling is the ultimate in corrective leveling. The material is run through an entry and exit set of bridle rolls – with the corrective leveler located between them. The strip is under great tension with a slight elongation above the yield point of the material and is simultaneously leveled. The material is shape corrected and relieved of most internal stresses. This process usually involves a dedicated line.

No matter how simple or complex your leveling needs, a Galaxie sales engineer is able to match the best machine to meet your coil leveling goals. We carry Herr Voss, Paxson, Mesta, Bronx, and Stamco, to name a few.

RECOILERS

A Recoiler is a critical component of a slitting line, pickling line, galvanizing line, edging lines, and tension level line. A recoiler is used to take up material after it has been processed. During the feed up of material, the processed coil is fed into a recoiler’s gripper slot to ensure it is secure for feed up. Once the material is secure, the recoiler’s mandrel is driven by an electric motor to feed material up until the process is finished. Once the coil is completely on the mandrel, it is banded so it is secure for transportation around the plant. Once banded the material is pushed off the recoiler’s mandrel by a hydraulic push off plate onto a coil car or turnstile for packaging.

ROLL FORMERS or ROLLFORMERS

Roll Forming or Rollforming is a continuous bending operation in which a long strip of sheet metal (typically coiled steel) is passed through sets of rolls mounted on consecutive stands, each set performing only an small part of the bend, until the desired cross-section profile is obtained. Roll forming is ideal for producing constant-profile parts with long lengths and in large quantities.

It typically begins with a large coil of sheet metal, supported on an uncoiler. The strip is fed through an entry guide to properly align the material as it passes through the rolls of the mill, each set of rolls forming a bend until the material reaches its desired shape. Roll sets are typically mounted one over the other on a pair of horizontal parallel shafts supported by a stand(s). Side rolls and cluster rolls may also be used to provide greater precision and flexibility and to limit stresses on the material. The shaped strips can be cut to length ahead of a roll forming mill, between mills, or at the end of the roll forming line.

Galaxie offers a wide variety of rollforming machines such as: Rafted, Gutter, and Joist

ROLLING MILLS

A Rolling Mill or Reduction Mill has a common construction independent of the specific type of rolling being performed:

• Backup rolls – are intended to provide rigid support required by the working rolls to prevent bending under the rolling load
• Rolling balance system – to ensure that the upper work and back up rolls are maintain in proper position relative to lower rolls
• Roll changing devices – use of an overhead crane and a unit designed to attach to the neck of the roll to be removed from or inserted into the mill
• Mill protection devices – to ensure that forces applied to the backup roll chocks are not of such a magnitude to fracture the roll necks or damage the mill housing
• Roll cooling and lubrication systems
• Pinions – gears to divide power between the two spindles, rotating them at the same speed but in different directions
• Gearing – to establish desired rolling speed
• Drive motors – rolling narrow foil product to thousands of horsepower
• Electrical controls – constant and variable voltages applied to the motors
• Uncoilers and recoilers – to unroll and roll up coils of metal 

Slabs are the feed material for hot strip mills or plate mills and blooms are rolled to billets in a billet mill or large sections in a structural mill. The output from a strip mill is coiled and, subsequently, used as the feed for a cold rolling mill or used directly by fabricators.

SHEARS

There are many uses for Shears in coil processing. A shear is used to crop the tongue off a coil on an entry or exit end of a slitting line, cut to length line, pickling line, or galvanizing line, used on the entry end of a tube and pipe mill before material is welded together then fed into an accumulator, and used to cut material into sheets on a cut to length line. Shears are pneumatically, hydraulically, or mechanically operated. Popular types of shears in a cut-to-length line are straight cut shears, rotary shears, and flying shears.

SHEET STACKERS

A Sheet Stacker is a component at the end of a cut to length line or blanking line. Sheet stackers are used to stack the cut material after it has come off an uncoiler, flattened through a leveler, and then sheared. Material is fed into the stacker, end stopped, sheared, and then will drop onto a pallet on top of a conveyor. A stacker will have side positioning arms to make sure the material is uniform in its stack. A sheet stacker also has an end stop arm so the material does not go further than a specific, measured length. Once the material is completely stacked it is either discharged at the end of a stacker or the side with a roller conveyor. There are a few types of stackers: sliding stackers, air blowing stackers, bomb-door or “drop type” stackers, magnetic and vacuum type stackers, and a combined bomb-door/air blowing stackers.

SLITTING LINES

A Slitting Line divides master metal coils into smaller coils of a precise width so secondary users such as metal stampers, tube producers or roll forming houses can use it in production of some type of finished product.

Slitting Lines are built to handle a wide array of steel coils. They range from 8” to 84” in width. Master coil weights can range from 3,000 to 80,000 pounds. Flat rolled steel can be produced as thick as 7/8” thick to as thin as .006” with certain specialty metals. Speed can range as fast as 2,000 feet per minute, or as low as 100 feet per minute, depending on the desired processing.

SPIRAL PIPE MILL

A spiral pipe mill is a facility that manufactures spiral welded steel pipes (also known as helical welded pipes). These pipes are made by winding a steel coil into a spiral shape (like a paper towel roll) and welding the edges together as the pipe is formed.

TENSION STANDS

A Tension Stand is a critical component of a slitting line. A tension stand presses on slit coil strips to keep tension between the recoiler and the stand, while maintaining slack in the material in the looping pit.

Types of tension stands are rotary, drag board, and combination rotary drag board. A rotary tension stand consists of two coated rolls that press on the material and move at the same speed as the recoiler. A drag board tension stand applies pressure on the material with two felt covered boards. A drag board tension stand applies pressure with air bladders pushing the boards on the material. A rotary drag board tension stand is a combination of the two. In a rotary drag board tension stand you have felt covered boards applying pressure on the material simultaneously with two coated rolls.

TUBE & PIPE MILLS

Welded Tube Mills and Welded Pipe Mills have been popular since modern flat rolled, or coiled, steel first make its way into the steel business more than a century ago.

The tube mill is really a series of individual machines starting with an uncoiler, straightener, shear and end welder – commonly known as the entry line. The forming mill consists of a break down section and forming section, usually consisting of three to six passes. Each pass made up of a upper and lower arbor that contains roller die tooling which forms the steel strip gradually into a round shape. This process is carried on through the fin passes which get the newly formed tube ready to weld. In the weld box the tube is welded by a high frequency or solid state welder. The inner and outer bead may be removed, before the four-to-six stand sizing section, where tube is made dimensionally accurate, or formed further into a square or rectangle. The final process cuts the new pipe to length, where it can be bundled in a magazine.

Galaxie is one of the world’s largest dealers in used pipe and tube mills. From structural to API mills, we have handled them all for more than two decades. Abbey Etna, Yoder, Mckay, Mannesman, Seuthe, Driestern, Oto Mills, Kusakabe, Nakata, Turek and Heller, and MTM are some of the top manufacturers we have inventoried. Contact Galaxie today with your tube and pipe mill requirements and our sales engineers will match a machine to your needs.

TURNSTILES

A Turnstile is a component used on the entry and/or exit end of coil processing line for coil storage. A turnstile has one arm, two arms, three arms, or four arms with a c-hook slot to place and remove material with a crane. Turnstiles for heavier coils are turned with a hydraulic motor. Sometimes an exit turnstile for a slitting line will have a hydraulic pusher to push slit coils onto a downlayer for further packaging on a coil banding line. You will usually see a turnstile on a slitting line and cut to length line, and sometimes on a pickling line, galvanizing line, tube and pipe mill, rollforming line, or spiral pipe mill.

UNCOILERS

An Uncoiler is the entry part of all coil processing lines. There are three main types of uncoilers: cone, single mandrel, and dual mandrel. Cone and dual mandrel uncoilers consist of two separate pieces on separate bases that slide into a coil’s ID to secure it. These are usually used for coils with higher thicknesses and weights. A single mandrel uncoiler is the most common type of uncoiler that you will see on slitting lines, cut to length lines, tube and pipe mills, galvanizing lines, multiblanking lines, pickling lines, and rollforming lines. A single mandrel uncoiler has a mandrel that expands and a hold down roll to secure the coil on it. A single mandrel uncoiler also usually has a sliding base to adjust material alignment in the line, a brake to keep tension, and a feed up drive to feed material into the rest of a line.

UPENDERS

A Coil Upender is used to adjust the direction of a coil for coil handling purposes. A coil is placed on the upender in “eye to the sky” or “eye horizontal” fashion then the upender, driven by an electric or hydraulic motor, flips the coil to the different orientation. The coil is then picked up by a forklift or crane for further handling.