Timken Latrobe Steel will modernise its rolling mill located in Latrobe, Pennsylvania/USA incorporating equipment manufactured by Friedrich Kocks GmbH & Co KG, Hilden/Germany. The modernisation includes the installation of a 4-stand 500 mm Reducing & Sizing Block [RSB] as well as the modification of existing 370 mm and 290 mm 3-roll blocks, eliminating in this process the existing 2-high stands No. 5 to 13. The modified 370 mm and 290 mm blocks will be capable of rolling from 5.6 to 37.3 mm round product. The new 500 mm 3-roll RSB will roll the pre-round feed stock for the 370 mm block as well as finished bar from 40 up to 76.2 mm in diameter. This configuration expands the previous dimensional range. The upgrade will enhance the Timken’s capabilities of rolling high-alloyed specialty steels and super alloys with very close tolerances. To complement the new mill equipment a new Kocks CNC-controlled roll
turning lathe in the roll shop will also be supplied. Commissioning of the modernised mill line is scheduled for 2004.
