New hot strip slitting line 2
28.05.2025 | Salzgitter Flachstahl GmbH
On Salzgitter Flachstahl’s hot strip slitting lines, hot strip is divided (split) into individual coils, so-called slit strip, by means of longitudinal slitting.
The new hot strip slitting line 2 (WBS2) is being commissioned at the Salzgitter facility to enable pickled and unpickled hot strip to be split into up to 13 slit strips in line with customers’ specifications. Hot strip slitting line 2 is currently in the ramp-up phase and in the near future, it is set to completely replace hot strip slitting line 1 (WBS1) that has been operational to date.
Hot strip slitting line 2 offers numerous advantages over its predecessor WBS1.
WBS2’s high degree of automation is reflected in its individual systems. For example, assembly of the rotary shears used to slit the hot strips on the WBS2 is performed by a robot. On the one hand, this relieves employees of physical work and on the other, the shears can be assembled in half the time it took to accomplish the same task manually on the WBS1.
In addition, after the shears have been used, they are automatically cleaned and the cutting edges of the knives checked to ensure that they are always used in optimum condition.
A fully automatic surface inspection system (SIS), as well as online width measurement of the slit strips guarantee optimum quality. In the future, a robot will take charge of labeling to ensure that the slit coils are reliably identified.
The substantial increase in the level of automation delivers a significant efficiency boost, besides relieving system personnel. As a result, capacity is increased while at the same time achieving and maintaining the tightest tolerances and highest quality standards.
By comparison with the old WBS1, the rotary shears used on the WBS2 have a larger inner diameter and are therefore also heavier. The larger, heavier circular knives allow higher cutting forces to be applied, resulting in an extended production range including high-strength and ultra-high-strength grades. For example, grades with a strength of up to 1,400 MPa can be processed on the new hot strip slitting line 2.
Slit strip thicknesses from 1.5 mm to 8 mm and slit strip widths from 100 mm to 2,000 mm can be produced on the WBS2, while maintaining the tightest tolerances and quality standards. Depending on the customer’s wishes, slit strip coils with inner diameters of 508 mm, 610 mm or 760 mm can be wound.
| Parameters | WBS 1 | WBS 2 |
| Strength | max. 1,000 MPa | max. 1,400 MPa |
| Slit strip thickness | 1.5-8.0 mm | 1.5-8.0 mm |
| Slit strip width | 100-1.600 mm | 100-2.000 mm |
| Width tolerances | min. 0.5 mm | min. 0.5 mm |
| Number of coils | max. 13 | max. 13 |
| Coil weight | max. 32 t | max. 36 t |
| Usable coil widths | 700-1,650 mm | 600-2,050 mm |
| Coil inner diameter | 508/610 mm | 508/610/760 mm |
| Coil outer diameter | 1,000-2,100 mm | 1,000-2,300 mm |
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