Eco Slide Disc: Revolutionizing Hot Strip Mill Efficiency

The Eco Slide Disc is an innovative, patented side guide system specifically developed for hot strip mills to address key challenges, including wear, strip edge issues, and surface defects. In the demanding environment of hot strip mills, achieving high operational efficiency while maintaining strip quality is essential.

Traditional entry side guides often result in frequent maintenance and surface defects caused by burning burrs. The Eco Slide Disc system provides an advanced solution by dramatically reducing maintenance costs and downtime while improving strip surface quality.

Eco Slide Disc System: Transforming Hot Strip Mill Operations

The Eco Slide Disc system marks a significant breakthrough in hot strip mill technology, addressing persistent challenges such as wear and strip surface defects. Traditional side guides in hot strip mills are prone to rapid wear, particularly when processing demanding steel grades like electrical steels and high-silicon grades. These materials accelerate wear on down coiler entry-side guides, leading to frequent maintenance and an increased risk of strip surface defects caused by burning burrs.

The Eco Slide Disc system introduces a revolutionary design by integrating wearing discs into gear beams attached to the entry-side guides. An electric drive rotates the discs partially between coils, typically by 8° after each guided strip, ensuring even wear across the discs. This innovation extends their operational lifespan from just days to several months, significantly reducing the frequency of replacements and inline cleaning required by conventional systems.

In addition to its durability, the Eco Slide Disc system enhances strip surface quality through its self-cleaning mechanism. As the discs rotate, the strips naturally remove small build-ups. By maintaining consistent strip quality and minimizing unscheduled production stops for cleaning, the system boosts overall mill productivity.

The Eco Slide Disc system can be retrofitted to nearly all existing side guides, offering exceptional versatility for various mill configurations. Its cost-effectiveness is further enhanced by the use of simple, low-cost carbon steel discs, ensuring a rapid return on investment. Moreover, the system reduces operational costs by eliminating the need for extensive storage and repair facilities, as well as minimizing reliance on bay cranes and maintenance personnel.

Benefits of the Eco Side Disc System

• Extended wear part lifespan: operates for months instead of days, reducing maintenance frequency
• Improved strip surface quality: prevents surface defects through a self-cleaning effect
• Improved strip edge quality: eliminates guiding grooves that cause edge defects
• Increased mill output: reduces downtime for cleaning and maintenance, boosting productivity and lowering the cobble rate
• Cost efficiency: minimizes operational costs with inexpensive carbon steel discs and reduced maintenance requirements
• High safety standards: eliminates hazardous inline activities, ensuring a safer working environment
• Adaptability: compatible with nearly all existing side guides, enabling flexible and straightforward implementation