PLANT AND PROCESS FOR MULTI-MODE MANUFACTURING OF METAL STRIPS AND PLATES

A process for the endless or batch production of strips and plates of hot-rolled steel, with thickness from 0,6 mm to 50 mm, comprises the continuous casting (1) with liquid core reduction of a thin slab (S) having a minimum thickness of 80 mm, followed by a heating in an induction heater (2), a finishing rolling (4), a controlled cooling (6) and a final shearing (5; 8), and further includes prior to said heating in an induction heater (2) an initial rolling (10) with a thickness reduction of the slab (S) of only about 10% and in any case not more than 20%, starting from a thickness reduction of about 8 mm.