1. Definitions and rolled products

It's not possible to define the lamination operation in a single phrase, and everyone can find their own, depending on what they're looking for.

For the generalist, this means introducing metal between two cylinders rotating in opposite directions, in order to lengthen it to a profile close to its final use.

For the rolling mill, this means subjecting the metal (steel) to a primary transformation with :

• technical, dimensional and quantitative objectives;

• economic objectives: lower labor, tooling and energy costs per unit produced.

For the metallurgist, this means obtaining superior mechanical or metallurgical characteristics; the previous operation, which may be casting, did not satisfy in this respect. In the case of hot...