NEW CONCEPTS FOR BAR AND ROD MILLS

Objective. Modern bar and wire rod mills are called upon to roll a wid e range of different steel grades with low heat and energy consumption , as well as providing for targeted temperature control similar to tha t in heat treatment. These demands are met by a new plant concept that is described in this report. Summary. The new concept concerns a bar and wire rod mill capable of efficiently producing a wide range of mat erials. It uses round continuously cast stock that is first processed in a high-reduction mill. The combination of round continuously cast b illets, the possibility of hot charging and high reduction offers dist inct advantages in terms of pre-heating and roughing. Equipment for ta rgeted temperature control and for in-line heat treatment was integrat ed into the rolling mill. The process technology for cold upsetting st eels, anti-friction bearing steels and valve steels was optimized in t he course of exhaustive laboratory and millshop tests. Based on these results, new concepts were developed for wire mills also using the hig h-reduction mill in the roughing train.