During the last few years the development focus in bar and wire rod production has been definitely the attainment of the desired material properties directly from rolling heat and the possibility of further processing the material without preliminary heat treatment. In combination with free size rolling, this has made production highly flexible. The introduction of near-net-shape beam-blank casting has markedly changed processes in section rolling. The number of passes has been reduced, the rolling mill plants are smaller in size and the rolling process has become simpler, more cost-effective and less energy consuming. Also in section and rail production, objective temperature control and cooling of the rolled product, and in rail rolling additionally the possibility of inline hardening, have led to enhanced product quality.