Edger mills play a central role in the rolling process in the controlled reduction of the width of slabs and semi-finished products. Modern systems generate pressing forces of up to 2,200 tonnes and enable a width reduction of up to 350 mm.

The forces occurring during this process must be precisely measured and monitored to ensure consistently high product quality, safe equipment operation and optimum process control.

Rolling force is one of the most important process variables in the Edger Press. Reliable rolling force measurement enables continuous monitoring of the actual forming forces, optimization of control loops and protection of the equipment against overloads. At the same time, it provides valuable data for quality management, process optimization and modern Industry 4.0 applications.

For this demanding measurement task, high-precision rolling force load cells such as the IMS EdgerKraft Circular are increasingly being used. The load cell, specially developed for edger mills in steel rolling mills, measures the rolling force directly in the force path and provides a precise measurement signal for process control, equipment protection and automatic width control (AWC). Compared with conventional methods that derive the rolling force from hydraulic pressure, direct force measurement enables significantly higher accuracy and contributes decisively to improved width accuracy, higher productivity and consistent product quality.