
This design eliminates ID damage on heavy coils and allows easy loading from an overhead crane. Storage saddles (see Figure 1) support coils from their outside diameter (OD). Also, it can be difficult to load small-ID coil. However, they support coils by the ID, and may damage thin, heavy coils. Because they rotate, they allow the line operator to select any coil in any order. Turnstiles with four arms are suitable for many slitting line applications. Common coil storage devices are turnstiles, saddles, and turntables. The ability to stage multiple coils is crucial because it prevents waiting at the line, and it allows the crane operator to retrieve and load coils whenever it is convenient, not when it is necessary. Entry Coil StorageĪ good entry coil storage system can improve efficiency by reducing line downtime and by allowing efficient use of overhead cranes. Some of the aspects that affect slitting line efficiency are entry coil storage coil inside diameter (ID) changes slitter tooling changeover scrap handling and strip tensioning. Coil processors should choose components that match the type of products run, the frequency of setup changes, and the labor available to operate the line. If a new slitting line is not in the cards, however, many existing slitting line components can be upgraded to improve efficiency.Ĭhoosing the right components does not necessarily mean choosing the most expensive ones.

Manufacturers and processors can and should specify new machines that run at high speeds and allow quick setups, which are two essential ingredients for efficient operation. To maintain a manufacturing sector in this country, industry must continually improve in efficiency. Carbon steel has been hit the hardest because it requires less advanced technology and often can be processed using unskilled, low-cost labor. are chasing too small a market-or, simply put, the slitting market has too much capacity.

Considering the staggering amount of manufacturing that has moved overseas recently, it follows that too many slitting lines in the U.S. A common theme among fabricators and service centers is that slitting steel has become a commodity process with very low margins.
