Hot Flat Rolling Fundamentals — A Practical Training Seminar in conjunction with Plate Rolling Fundamentals Training 

	Rich Smith presented, “Practical Aspects of Plate Leveling,” at Hot Flat Rolling Fundamentals — A Practical Training Seminar in conjunction with Plate Rolling Fundamentals Training.

Conference Details: 21–25 February 2016, Birmingham, Ala., USA
Conference Highlights: The four-day seminar was designed to give a fundamental overview of the hot rolling process by explaining the history of how hot rolling developed. The seminar commenced with a discussion on safety. The attendees then reviewed metallurgical basics before learning about the equipment and processes involved with reheating the slabs and beginning the rolling process through the roughing and finishing mills, including flatness and profile control.
On the second day, attendees in the hot sheet rolling track toured Nucor Steel–Decatur LLC, and those in the plate rolling track toured Nucor Steel Tuscaloosa Inc. The intent was not only to break up the classroom time, but also to give the students a view of the equipment they were studying.
On the third day, the group divided into the hot sheet rolling track, which concentrated on rolling theory, mini-mills, hot rolling defects and finished with continued hot rolling developments, while the plate rolling track concentrated on the Steckel mill, discrete plate mill equipment, plate finishing and plate leveling.
The final day brought both groups back together again and included presentations on gauge and width control in hot rolling, descaling, roll cooling and spray issues followed by runout table cooling technology. The conference wrapped up with practical considerations for operation and maintenance of the downcoilers followed by perspectives of rolls and roll shops.

1. Attendees in the Hot Flat Rolling Fundamentals Seminar’s plate rolling track toured Nucor Steel Tuscaloosa Inc. 2. Mike Lee (left) and Chris Backel (right) accepted a plaque of appreciation for hosting a tour of Nucor Steel–Decatur LLC for attendees in the hot sheet rolling track.