Schedule
21–24 September 2026 • Hyatt Place + Hyatt House Charleston-Historic District • Charleston, SC, USA
Monday, 21 September 2026 | |
| 4 p.m. | Registration |
| 5 p.m. | Reception |
Tuesday, 22 September 2026 | |
| 7 a.m. | Registration/Breakfast |
| 8 a.m. | Introductions Brian Smith, ANDRITZ Metals USA Inc. |
| 8:20 a.m. | Introductions, Overview and Definition of General Terms for Processing Chad Donovan, SMS group Inc. |
| 8:55 a.m. | Entry-Level Introductions to Finishing Lines and Automation Trends Tony Latham, SES Engineering |
| 9:40 a.m. | Break |
| 9:55 a.m. | Incoming Material Mark Zipf, Steel Dynamics Inc. This presentation examines the characteristics of the material that arrives at the entry end of process lines and finishing equipment. The first point of discussion involves gaining an understanding of the material’s typical dimensional geometry, metallurgical characteristics, mechanical properties, surface conditions and flatness. This leads to a review of methods specifying and standardizing the incoming material, such that it falls within the capabilities envelops of the process and finishing equipment. Next is a quick look at where the material comes from, and the upstream, multistage processes involved in its formation, providing some key insight into what to expect and what can go wrong. The discussion then takes a tour of the many defects and unsettling conditions that the process and finishing end should anticipate and must be prepared to contend with. |
| 10:50 a.m. | Break |
| 11 a.m. | Incoming Material (cont’d) Mark Zipf, Aluminum Dynamics LLC |
| Noon | Lunch |
| 1 p.m. | Incoming Material (cont’d) Mark Zipf, Aluminum Dynamics LLC |
| 1:30 p.m. | Control Basics for Processing Lines Thomas Richards, TMEIC Corp. Americas An overview of control techniques applied to processing lines will be presented. Basic processing line control examples are provided for illustration. |
| 2 p.m. | Coil Joining Using Resistance Welding Matt Keller, Taylor-Winfield Technologies Inc. This presentation will give an overview of resistance welding and the styles and techniques used to join coil using resistance welds in continuous process lines. |
| 2:45 p.m. | Break |
| 3 p.m. | Pickling Technology: Carbon and Stainless Steels Jay Kremm, Danieli Corp. The goal of this presentation is to provide an overview of the pickling process and the key equipment that makes it happen. While the focus will be mainly on carbon steel pickling, it will also touch on the differences between that and the stainless steel processing requirements. From the equipment side, the presentation will review the various configurations of pickling lines that exist and look closer at the key equipment that allows a modern line to produce to today’s high standards. |
| 3:45 p.m. | Advancements and Opportunities in Strip Cleaning Section Optimization Eric Almquist, Star Tool & Die Works Inc. Surface cleanliness is critical for some aspects of steel processing, particularly those related to applying coatings or annealing surface-critical materials. This presentation will provide a brief overview of sheet cleaning fundamentals, goals, the most common mistakes, and practical methods to evaluate cleanliness before finishing with recent advancements and opportunities. |
| 4:25 p.m. | Fundamentals of Leveling Tyler Delong, Allor Manufacturing Co. This presentation provides a practical overview of leveling fundamentals, including the different types of levelers and the material defects they are designed to correct. It will explore common strip shape issues such as edge wave, center buckle and crossbow, along with the mechanical principles behind their removal. Attendees will gain a clear understanding of how proper leveler setup and operation directly impact flatness, quality and downstream performance. |
| 5 p.m. | Adjourn |
Wednesday, 23 September 2026 | |
| 7 a.m. | Registration/Breakfast |
| 8 a.m. | Annealing B.J. Austin, EBNER Furnaces Inc. This presentation covers annealing and metallurgy. Discussion on the overview, process sections and components and furnace atmosphere. This will also cover design considerations, control methods, combustion, decarbonization and safety considerations. |
| 8:45 a.m. | Continuous Hot-Dip Galvanizing Sam Colosimo, ANDRITZ Metals USA Inc. This presentation provides an overview of the operation of a continuous galvanizing line, highlighting the key processes and equipment involved in producing high-quality galvanized steel. Participants will gain insights into each stage of the process, including strip preparation, annealing, zinc coating application, air knife control and post-treatment processes. The presentation will explain the critical role of temperature, coating thickness control and line speed in ensuring consistent product quality. |
| 9:30 a.m. | Break |
| 10:30 a.m. | Skinpass/Temper Rolling Mark Zipf, Aluminum Dynamics LLC This presentation provides an overview of skinpass and temper rolling, with an emphasis on “why we are doing this” and “how all this works.” Starting with a study of the material’s yielding and deformation behavior, the strip’s surface structure, and the concepts of profile, shape and flatness, an understanding of the key factors is established, warranting the rolling deformation process and governing its objectives. Next, classical rolling mill arrangements are reviewed, and the discussion examines the force-loaded conditions/reactions occurring within the roll bite (in both the longitudinal and transverse directions), leading to how these actions impart certain transformations of the material’s geometry, surface condition and mechanical properties. The mill’s equipment is then dissected with a focus on the general arrangement and roll gap/shape actuators, combined with the mill’s control strategies and systems. Methods of performance measurement/quality evaluation are introduced, along with an examination of problems and shortcomings that are often experienced. The presentation closes with a comparison of differing mill formats and a review of recent developments in enhanced quality and productivity. |
| 10:55 a.m. | Break |
| 11:10 a.m. | Skinpass/Temper Rolling (cont’d) Mark Zipf, Steel Aluminum Dynamics LLC |
| Noon | Lunch |
| 1 p.m. | Automated Surface Inspection of Sheet and Finished Product Jacqueline Peintinger, AMETEK Surface Vision |
| 1:45 p.m. | Flatness Measurement and Control: Practical Approaches for Modern Sheet Processing Lines Brian Smith, ANDRITZ Metals USA Inc. Flatness measurement and control are critical to ensuring strip shape quality in modern sheet processing and finishing lines, directly impacting downstream process stability, surface quality and customer acceptance. This topic addresses the principles of flatness measurement using shapemeters and sensor technologies, the interpretation of flatness data, and its interaction with rolling forces, tension, thermal effects and mill actuators. Practical strategies for closed-loop flatness control, troubleshooting common flatness defects and integrating measurement systems into existing lines will be discussed to support consistent, high-quality production. |
| 2:30 p.m. | Break |
| 2:45 p.m. | The Chemical Process of Steel Strip Cleaning and How to Enhance Performance Andreas Wierschan, Quaker Houghton This presentation details how the physical processes, chemical reactions and parameters of the cleaning section enable efficient steel cleaning. Methods for optimizing and maintaining the performance of the cleaner bath will also be discussed. |
| 3:45 p.m. | Tinplating — As Relevant Now as Ever Matt Gilfillan, United States Steel Corporation Tin mill products are cold-reduced, low-carbon steel sheet produced in light gauges. These products are used in the manufacture of food and aerosol cans and other general line applications. |
| 4:30 p.m. | Paint Lines Overview This presentation provides an overview of how color coating lines produce flat-rolled prepainted steel. It will discuss the coating process and some common quality-related issues. |
| 5–6 p.m. | Reception |
Thursday, 24 September 2026 | |
| 7 a.m. | Breakfast |
| 7:55 a.m. | Introductions and Opening Remarks Brian Smith, ANDRITZ Metals USA Inc. |
| 8 a.m. | Line Equipment, Component Life Cycle and Quality Chris Mitrecic, ANDRITZ Metals USA Inc. |
| 8:30 a.m. | Packaging of Coils and Sheets Steve Hart, Dubose Strapping |
| 9 a.m. | Corrosion Preventives and Surface Treatments Andreas Wierschan, Quaker Houghton This presentation will go over the different classes of corrosion preventives and surface treatments and how they protect steel against corrosion and/or impart the steel with other beneficial properties. It will review how the properties and application parameters of process fluids impact performance, and methods for optimizing and maintaining product performance. |
| 9:45 a.m. | Break |
| 10 a.m. | Slitting Lines Technology for Efficiency Matteo Radaelli, Salico S.p.A. |
| 10:45 a.m. | Slitting Mechanics and Slitter Tooling for Modern Metal Processing Brian Shaw, ANDRITZ Metals USA Inc. As steel’s mechanical properties have significantly increased over the last two decades, the slitting and cutting equipment to process these newer steels has to adapt to keep pace. This presentation will provide the fundamentals principles of cutting flat-rolled steel that have held true since steel was first rolled into plates and coils, and apply these principles to today’s advanced high-strength steel grades. |
| Noon | Lunch |
| 1 p.m. | Plant Tour of Nucor Steel–Berkeley |