Andritz Sundwig GmbH (Hemer, Germany):

Ch. Bartholdt, Head of Rolling Mills Technological Dept., e-mail: christian.bartholdt@andritz.com
F. Kopin, Head of Rollng Mills

Technical High School Köln (Cologne, Germany):
M. Jelali, Prof., Dr., Head of the Chair of Measuring Technics and Mechatronics

In order to optimize rolling processes and to increase strip quality and the productivity of rolling mills, Andritz Sundwig has developed a modular and universally applicable flatness model for all types of rolling mills with configurable flatness actuators. The model takes into account all effects and components involved in the flatness development. Latest insights and methods for describing the effects were included. Particular emphasis was placed on the computational efficiency of the implemented solution algorithms to enable online applications such as mill pre-setting. It is planned in the nearest future to use flatness model in the development of rolling program with optimized strip flatness for each pass. It will allow to improve efficiency of rolling stand settings, to increase reduction per pass and, consequently, to rise rolling mill productivity. It is concluded, that development of optimization strategy and algorithms that will be able to account partly contradictory requirements and criteria is rather necessary in order to calculate rolling program and rolling stands’ settings for final flatness improvement.

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