Rolls Technology Committee Activities

Rolls Technology Committee (RTC) - 1 October 2024, Cleveland, Ohio, USA

The RTC meeting brought together over 65 industry experts for discussions on technical advancements and safety practices in roll chock maintenance technology. Led by chair Jochen Muenker, the meeting emphasized open technical discussions, reaffirming the RTC’s commitment to a safe and collaborative environment. Safety discussions led by Mike Reidy and Chris Pace focused on improving roll shop safety by transitioning to hydraulic nuts for Morgoil bearings and investing in enhanced lifting devices. The RTC also made progress on its AISTech 2025 technical sessions, with papers chair Dan Grenough outlining a dedicated session on roll manufacturing, maintenance and environmental impacts.  

The RTC explored future meeting locations, with the next session scheduled for February 2025 at Tesla’s Mega Plant in Austin, Texas, USA. Topics will include cold mill work roll alternatives and roll manufacturing innovations, with participation from Cleveland-Cliffs and North Star BlueScope. Tours of Cleveland-Cliffs, Primetals Technologies and Glunt Industries provided an on-the-ground view of cutting-edge roll shop practices.

The RTC met 20–21 February 2024, Corpus Christi, Texas, USA.

The RTC discussed membership growth and reviewed previous meeting minutes before delving into the main agenda items, including finalizing its AISTech 2024 sessions and nominating officers for the 2024–2025 term. Presentations on safety practices and roll shop development sparked engaging discussions, particularly regarding risk management and modernizing roll shop infrastructure.

The group enjoyed a thorough tour of Steel Dynamics Inc.’s Sinton facilities the following day.

The RTC met 7–8 November 2023, Ontario, Calif., USA.

The Rolls Technology Committee convened for their fall meeting on 7 November 2023 in Ontario, Calif., USA, with a subsequent tour of California Steel Industries Inc. on 8 November 2023. The meeting, led by committee chair Kyle Sims, commenced with a warm welcome to all attendees.

A significant portion of the meeting centered around updates on the RTC’s sessions at the upcoming AISTech 2024 conference, scheduled for 6–9 May 2024 in Columbus, Ohio. Currently, seven abstracts are organized into two sessions, with Sean McHugh and Dan Grenough volunteering as session chairs for the AISTech 2024 Rolls sessions.

The committee also reviewed the Call for Papers for AISTech 2025, reaching a consensus to incorporate “automation in roll shops” as a noteworthy theme.

Two insightful presentations enriched the meeting: “Handheld Ultrasonic Usage” by Sam Watters and Will Haworth of Sonatest, and “Grinding Wheel Technology” by George Issac of Precision Abrasives.

The RTC met 8 May 2023, Detroit, MI, USA.

The following officers were elected:

• Chair: Kyle Sims - Gontermann-Peipers GmbH

• Vice Chair: Jochen Muenker - GEORG North America

• Papers Chair: Robert Curler - Herkules North America

• Membership Chair: Lydia Stromei - DeAmicis & Associates LLC

• Young Professional Chair: Sean McHugh - LISMAR Inc.

• Digitalization Liaison: Justin Snedeker - Herkules North America

The RTC met 11–12 October 2022, Memphis, Tenn., USA

Jochen Muenker reviewed the five abstracts available to the RTC for AISTech 2023 and asked for more submissions. He also asked for session chair volunteers and received nine volunteers. The AISTech 2024 Call for Papers text was discussed and approved. Muenker will coordinate the selection process for the 2023 Rolls Technology Committee Best Paper Award.
The RTC discussed creating a Roll Shop Roundup. The producer members see value in being able to share information, particularly about spare parts.
Kyle Sims then led a discussion about safety with many of the attendees sharing experiences within their facilities.
Presentations:

• “Latest EDT Technology and EDC for Extended Textured Roll Campaigns,” by Chris Childs, Sarclad.

• “Laser Texturing Technologies,” by Alfredo Brambilla, Tenova.

• “Development of New Double-Poured and Forged Backup Rolls,” by Raphael Steinhagen, Gontermann-Peipers.

The attendees toured Nucor Steel–Arkansas’ specialty cold mill complex.

The RTC met 16 May 2022, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.

The following officers were elected:

• Chair: Kyle Sims  /  Cleveland-Cliffs Burns Harbor

• Vice Chair: Jochen Muenker  /  GEORG North America

• Papers Chair: Robert Curler  /  Herkules North America

• Membership Chair: Lydia Stromei  /  DeAmicis & Associates LLC

• Young Professional Chair: Sean McHugh  /  Vollmer America

• Digital Transformation Liaison: Justin Snedeker  /  Herkules North America

The RSTC met 3 March 2022, virtual meeting.

 Chris Hrizo, RTC chair, opened and led the virtual meeting for the 21 members in attendance. The group first discussed the latest Steel Industry Fatalities report.
The group finalized its two RTC-sponsored sessions for AISTech 2022 and topics for its grinder rebuild panel discussion. Committee officers for the 2022–2023 term were nominated, and elections scheduled for the RTC’s next meeting at AISTech 2022.

The HSRTC and RTC met 27 October 2021, Warrendale, Pa., USA

During the last week of October, the RTC and HSRTC held separate business meetings and then combined into a joint technical presentation session at AIST headquarters. RTC chair Chris Hrizo welcomed 20 in-person attendees and seven virtual attendees while HSRTC chair Rob Brunelli welcomed 13 in-person attendees and six virtual attendees.

The HSRTC has begun planning the Hot Sheet and Plate Rolling Fundamentals — Practical Training Seminar, which is scheduled for the fall of 2022. Nancy Hake, HSRTC education chair, is leading the effort to organize this seminar. The Plate Rolling Technology Committee has a similar education subcommittee led by Qiulin Yu to organize the Plate portion of the seminar. Papers chair Ashish Singh outlined abstracts for three sessions at AISTech 2022.
The RTC is continuing to produce a strong list of technology-focused content highlighting both safety and digitalization in North American roll shops. Papers chair Jochen Münker is arranging the AISTech 2022 abstracts. The RTC’s programming will include a panel discussion on the topic of grinder rebuild and new installation of grinders and service.
Young Professionals Subcommittee chairs Sean McHugh and Jorge Fernandez described the new activities that have been rolled out during the pandemic and upcoming programs expected before AISTech.
In the afternoon, members enjoyed technical presentations from Michael Chociej Jr., Herkules North America; Reginald Snyder, TMEIC Corp. Americas; Dave Mann, Innerspec Technologies Inc.; and Rajat Bathla, Cleveland-Cliffs Burns Harbor.
The two Technology Committees wrapped up their fall meeting the following day with tours of Cleveland-Cliffs Butler Works and Herkules North America.

Sean McHugh (left) presented Michael Chociej Jr. (right) with a plaque of appreciation for hosting the RTC’s tour of Herkules North America

The RSTC and LSRTC met jointly 7 October 2021, Colorado Springs, Colo., USA.

The committee members along with the attendees from the Secondary Steelmaking Refractories — A Practical Training Seminar toured Evraz Rocky Mountain Steel. After the tour, the LSRTC and RSTC met for their meeting, which included a safety discussion of steel industry fatalities focused on how more people are traveling now and coming in and out of facilities after a long time of mills being restricted on visitors; the main idea was to be aware and keep an eye out for everyone.
Both groups discussed their AISTech sessions as well as a potential joint session between the two committees.
The location for the October 2022 Secondary Steelmaking Refractories course will be Orlando, Fla., USA, with a tour of Nucor Steel Florida.
The RSTC is also working on dates for its Study Tour across Japan visiting a number of steel mills and refractory companies.
The second half of the meeting focused on refractory scanning for vessel life including ladles, furnaces and well blocks to determine efficient sand usage, etc. Presentations were given by Alan Stauffer, Nucor Steel–Texas, and David Thomas, MINTEQ; Sean Guy, Process Metrics/Vesuvius; and Jamie Lash, AJF Refractories.

The RTC met 29 June 2021, Nashville, TN USA.

The following officers were elected:

• Chair: Chris Hrizo, WHEMCO Inc.

• Vice Chair: Kyle Sims, Cleveland-Cliffs Burns Harbor

• Papers Chair: Jochen Muenker, GEORG North America

• Membership Chair: Lydia Stromei, DeAmicis & Associates LLC

• Young Professional Chair: Sean McHugh, Vollmer America

• Rolls Technology Best Paper Award

• “Development of Electrical Discharge Coating for Extended Textured Roll Campaigns”

• Chris R. Childs, Head of Research and Development, Sarclad Ltd.

• Tom Lowbridge, Applications Service Engineer, Sarclad Ltd.

• Gareth Evans, Research Project Manager, Sarclad Ltd.

The RTC held a virtual meeting 17 February 2021.

RTC chair Chris Hrizo welcomed everyone to the meeting and touched base with the attendees on COVID-19-related issues affecting their professional communities.
Papers chair Jochen Muenker provided a report on the RTC’s technical paper sessions for AISTech 2021. He outlined the nine presentations planned for two sessions, one on Tuesday afternoon and one on Wednesday morning, with session chairs duties emphasized. The RTC’s Best Paper Award Selection Committee was in process of finalizing a recipient, who will be announced at AISTech 2021.
Young Professional chair Sean McHugh updated the RTC on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on this group’s activity and noted the primary focus for meeting in person has been supported with virtual programming during the preparations for AISTech 2021.
The committee then plotted a course of action for the coming months.
Presentation:

• • “Benefits of Automated Roll Inspection,” by Sean McHugh, Vollmer America Inc., highlighted the role of integrated rolls inspection systems in terms of safety and economics.

The RTC held a virtual meeting 13 August 2020.

RTC chair Chris Hrizo opened the meeting by posing a question for all attendees on current business- and health-related conditions being experienced at each workplace. Hrizo emphasized the importance of maintaining AIST membership via social media and email channels.
Membership chair Lydia Stromei reported that the current number of RTC members is topping 140. She is working with a small group within the RTC to draft a new member contact letter to use in increasing the number of RTC members. Despite some employers not offering to reimburse the AIST membership fee, individuals are still choosing to stay active, even at their own cost. Stromei noted that the meeting at Purdue University Northwest brought a number of non-members to the event.
Sean McHugh commented that the RTC might consider the success of a recent meeting he attended, which was a joint meeting between the Cold Sheet Rolling and Galvanizing Technology Committees and the Sensors Subcommittee in Louisville, Ky. This event, in McHugh’s opinion, did an excellent job of limiting commercialism in the presentations, including two competitors who agreed to co-present in one session. The focus was clearly aimed at educating the attendees.
McHugh also gave an update on the Young Professionals activities.
Ideas for the next RTC meeting included creating a virtual meeting to support its new papers chair Jochen Muenker, and to reach out for specific technical topics for use in virtual meetings. Noting the success of joint committee meetings, a joint virtual meeting was also considered.
The group held a safety discussion focused on the age bracket portion of the Steel Industry Fatalities report. Comments included ways to address the possible complacency being experienced with team members who are seasoned and well-trained, yet have become too accustomed to normal working conditions to remember implementing safety steps on a regular basis.

The RTC had a virtual meeting 12 May 2020.

The RTC started the meeting by reviewing the mission statement and the AISTech 2021 Call for Papers. The group then brainstormed ways for the committee to engage members during the COVID-19 pandemic and encourage new member participation.
The committee finished their meeting by holding elections for their 2020–2021 officers. The new officers are:

• Chair: Chris Hrizo, WHEMCO Inc.

• Vice chair: Kyle Sims, ArcelorMittal Burns Harbor.

• Papers chair: Jochen Muenker, Georg Capco Inc.

• Membership chair: Lydia Stromei, DeAmicis & Associates LLC.

• Digitalization liaison: Christopher Pace, ArcelorMittal Cleveland.

• Young Professional liaison: Sean McHugh, Vollmer America Inc.

The RTC met 11–12 March 2020, Memphis, Tenn., USA.

The RTC met during a week of unprecedented historical nature due to the COVID-19 health precautions overtaking the country. Even with the rapidly changing governmental and business travel rules, the meeting had 22 committee members in attendance.
Papers chair Raphael Steinhagen reviewed the RTC’s technical paper sessions for AISTech. Membership chair Lydia Stromei provided trending information on past meeting attendance.
Presenters from Nucor Steel–Indiana and ArcelorMittal Burns Harbor discussed new safety procedures being implemented through solid capital expenditure commitments. Greg Boyd and Craig Heldt from Neo Industries Inc. discussed electrical discharge texturing and chrome plating of rolls for cold mill applications.
The RTC discussed officer positions for 2020–2021. Sean McHugh will represent the RTC on the Young Professional Steering Committee.