Challenge details:

In cold rolling mills, steel strips undergo significant thickness reduction under high-speed rolling conditions. Coolant is applied between the rolls and the sheet, to provide lubrication and cooling during rolling. Post the rolling process, air knives are used to remove residual coolant from the strip surface before the strip proceeds to downstream processes such as coating and finishing. However, at times, coolant remains on the strip surface and carried forward to the subsequent processes. This coolant can result in surface contamination and may cause defects, leading to product rejection, scrap, rework, product downgrading which will in turn lead to losses. Currently, coolant carryover is generally identified only after defects become visible during the final inspection, resulting in delayed corrective action. The challenge is further complicated by strip speeds of up to 1200 m/min.

Thus, there is a need for a non-contact method to detect, reduce or prevent residual coolant from the strip surface. Solutions may include real-time monitoring and alert generation, or advanced approaches that minimize or eliminate residual coolant from the strip surface.

We are seeking the solution which should operate reliably under continuous production conditions and enable timely intervention before coolant carryover impacts product quality downstream. The solution should be scalable across multiple rolling mill lines.