Device and method for producing a non-grain-oriented electric strip
A single-system approach for producing non-grain-oriented electrical steel integrates pickling, annealing, and rolling, addressing throughput limitations and cost inefficiencies by enhancing productivity and flexibility.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- SMS GROUP GMBH
- Filing Date
- 2026-01-15
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-23
AI Technical Summary
Current production methods for non-grain-oriented electrical steel with high silicon content require multiple plants due to incompatibility of process steps, leading to low throughput, high investment costs, and inefficient energy consumption.
A combined apparatus integrating pickling, recrystallization annealing, and rolling mill in a single system, allowing for continuous operation and flexible deployment, with optional decoupling and hybridization of components to enhance productivity and reduce costs.
The integrated system increases production rates, reduces investment costs, and enhances flexibility while maintaining consistent quality and resource efficiency.
Smart Images
Figure EP2026050893_23072026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] Hemmerich & Colleagues
[0002] Apparatus and method for the production of non-grain-oriented electrical steel
[0003] Technical field
[0004] The invention relates to a device and a method for producing non-grain-oriented electrical steel.
[0005] Background of the invention
[0006] Non-grain-oriented electrical steel (NGO) refers to a metallic material, particularly steel, with a silicon content of 2 to 3.5%, which exhibits similar magnetic properties in all directions. Non-grain-oriented electrical steel is used, for example, in motors where isotropic magnetic properties are required. Different grades are distinguished, primarily defined by the strip thickness and the proportion of alloyed silicon.
[0007] Electrical steel with a high silicon content (Si > 2.2%) requires intermediate annealing during production to homogenize the grain structure after hot rolling due to its recrystallization inertness. During intermediate annealing, the strip is exposed to a temperature between 600 and 1200 °C for a minimum of 60 seconds. Following intermediate annealing, the material is pickled to remove any scale present on the strip. The pickled material is cold-rolled to approximately the desired final thickness and then undergoes final annealing at a minimum of 900 °C for a minimum of 20 seconds. The final annealed strip can be coated with an insulating lacquer.
[0008] Typically, for the production of non-grain-oriented electrical steel strips with more than 2.2 wt% Si, a combined annealing and pickling line (APL), a reversing cold mill (RCM), and a combined annealing and coating line (ACL) are used.
[0009] Page 1 Hemmerich & Colleagues
[0010] The first annealing of the material in a bell furnace is possible. However, this alternative route requires a separate pickling line to remove the scale. The use of the individual plant types in this sequence is based on the fact that non-grain-oriented electrical steel with high silicon contents (Si > 2.2 wt%) does not undergo a phase change during solidification in continuous casting. As a result, non-recrystallised areas remain within the material after hot rolling. These necessitate homogenization annealing to standardize the grain structure before the cold rolling process.
[0011] Methods for the production of non-grain-oriented electrical steel are shown, for example, in WO 03 / 042416 A1, EP 2 886667 A1, WO 03 / 097884 A1 and EP 3333271 A1.
[0012] A combination of APL, ROM, and ACL, for example, produces between 200,000 and 300,000 tons of electrical steel per year. To meet future demand for electrical steel, particularly for high-silicon grades (such as NGO-EV for electric vehicle motors), a significantly higher tonnage is required.
[0013] To increase throughput, current technology requires the parallel operation of several plants, for example, the simultaneous operation of approximately four to five APLs, four to five RCMS, and four to five ACLs for the production of approximately 1 million tons of electrical steel per year. This results in enormous investment costs while simultaneously limiting production flexibility.
[0014] The production of NGO-EV grades on a combined pickling and annealing line is theoretically possible, but requires annealing the hot strip in a continuous annealing line (CAL) or in a batch annealing furnace (BAF). Both variants
[0015] Page 2 Hemmerich & Colleagues
[0016] are associated with additional investments and do not solve the problem of low throughput.
[0017] The challenge in producing high-productivity NGO-EV grade electrical steel lies in the inherent incompatibility of different process steps within a single plant, necessitating a large number of plants for its production. This significantly limits production rates and / or results in high investment costs for acquiring multiple identical plants.
[0018] Several systems connected in series each have their own infeed and outfeed areas, meaning that a coil is wound, transported, and unwound several times before completion. This slows down the production of individual coils and results in high energy consumption.
[0019] Description of the invention
[0020] One object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus and an improved method for the production of non-grain-oriented electrical steel, in particular to improve productivity in the production of non-grain-oriented electrical steel.
[0021] The problem is solved by a device having the features of claim 1 and a method having the features of the dependent method claim. Advantageous embodiments follow from the dependent claims, the following description of the invention, and the description of preferred embodiments.
[0022] The device according to the invention is designed for the production of non-grain-oriented electrical steel, preferably made of steel with a silicon content.
[0023] The device has an inlet area designed to unwind a metal strip from a coil using a winder and guide it along a
[0024] Page 3 Hemmerich & Colleagues
[0025] To transport in the direction of travel. The infeed area can include a belt joining device, for example a welding machine or a stapling machine, for joining two metal belts in order to connect the currently unwinding metal belt to the preceding metal belt, thus enabling continuous operation of the device.
[0026] The device includes a pickling section arranged and configured along the conveying direction downstream of the inlet area to treat the metal strip with a pickling solution. The pickling section is primarily used to remove scale from the metal strip.
[0027] The device includes a tempering section arranged downstream of the pickling section along the conveying direction and configured to subject the metal strip to recrystallization annealing. Recrystallization annealing serves to homogenize the microstructure of the metal strip.
[0028] The device further comprises a rolling mill, which is arranged and set up along the conveying direction downstream of the tempering section to reduce the strip thickness of the metal strip to a desired final dimension, and an exit area, which is arranged and set up along the conveying direction downstream of the rolling mill to wind the metal strip into a coil by means of a winder.
[0029] The aforementioned stations, including in particular the pickling section, the tempering section, and the rolling mill, are combined in a single system or device, thereby increasing production rates and reducing investment costs compared to operating and acquiring multiple systems. The device allows for a compact design, for example, compared to three separate systems. The device is resource-efficient and, in particular, operates with low emissions.
[0030] Page 4 Hemmerich & Colleagues
[0031] enables the production of non-grain-oriented electrical steel of consistent quality and different grades.
[0032] It should be noted that terms relating to spatial relationships such as "downstream", "upstream", "in front", "behind", etc. are clearly defined by the conveying direction of the metal belt in the intended use of the device.
[0033] Preferably, at least one storage section is arranged between the inlet area and the pickling section, and / or between the pickling section and the tempering section, and / or between the tempering section and the rolling mill. The storage section can comprise one or more loop storage units. A loop storage unit is an element comprising at least two rollers. These rollers can be fixed in position relative to each other, and / or be movable relative to each other. The loop storage unit can be oriented either horizontally or vertically. The one or more storage sections compensate for, for example, different process speeds and thus contribute to the uninterrupted operation of the device. For instance, a storage section in the inlet area ensures that the system is continuously supplied with material during a welding process.
[0034] Preferably, the pickling section includes a pickling tank containing pickling solution, through which the metal strip can be transported or is transported during operation. A hydrochloric acid pickling solution is particularly suitable.
[0035] Preferably, the tempering section comprises a continuous annealing furnace. Electrical heating of the annealing furnace enables an emission-free design of the system. The recrystallization annealing of the metal strip in the tempering section is carried out, in particular, at a temperature of at least 600°C and a maximum of 1,300°C, preferably at least 900°C and a maximum of 1,250°C.
[0036] Page 5 Hemmerich & Colleagues
[0037] especially preferably at least 950 °C and at most 1,200 °C, most preferably at least 1,000 °C and at most 1,150 °C.
[0038] Preferably, the tempering section includes a cooling system to cool the metal strip to a desired rolling temperature. The cooling can be controlled such that the outgoing metal strip enters the rolling mill at a temperature of at least 50 °C, i.e., passes through the first rolling pass of the subsequent rolling mill. Preferably, the temperature of the metal strip entering the rolling mill is at least 70 °C, particularly preferably at least 90 °C, and most preferably at least 110 °C.
[0039] Preferably, the rolling mill is designed as a tandem rolling mill with several rolling stands, for example as 4-high, 6-high or 18-high or 20-high stands, to reduce the strip thickness of the re-crystallization annealed metal strip to the desired final dimension.
[0040] Preferably, the device includes a bypass device configured to divert the metal strip past the tempering section. Such a bypass device enables the tempering section to be decoupled from the rest of the system and allows the system to be operated as a combined pickling and rolling line. A storage section between the pickling section and the tempering section, but upstream of any bypass device, allows the pickling section to be operated as an independent system.
[0041] The device may include additional inlet and / or outlet areas, for example an additional outlet area behind the pickling section and before the tempering section, and / or an additional inlet area together with, for example, an additional storage section before the tempering section and an additional storage section together with, for example, an additional outlet area behind the tempering section, and / or an additional inlet area before the rolling mill and behind the tempering section.
[0042] Page 6 Hemmerich & Colleagues
[0043] In this way, the device is highly flexible, allowing for the bypassing and / or decoupling of individual system components and, depending on requirements, the hybridization of these components. Several different systems can be eliminated, resulting in further space savings. The additional infeed and / or outfeed areas can each be equipped with an unwinder or winder to unwind the metal strip from a coil or wind it onto one.
[0044] Any additional inlet and / or outlet areas do not negate the combination of the pickling section, the temperature control section, and the rolling mill in a single plant. Any additional inlet and outlet areas, if installed, are bypassable, meaning they are not mandatory in the process. Alternatively, the pickling section, the temperature control section, and the rolling mill can be combined in a single plant or device without additional inlet or outlet areas, making the plant particularly compact.
[0045] The above-mentioned problem is further solved by a method for producing non-grain-oriented electrical steel, the method comprising: unwinding a metal strip from a coil by an unwinder of an entry section and conveying the metal strip along a conveying direction; treating the metal strip with a pickling solution in a pickling section arranged downstream of the entry section along the conveying direction; recrystallizing the metal strip in a tempering section arranged downstream of the pickling section along the conveying direction; reducing the strip thickness of the metal strip to a desired final dimension in a rolling mill arranged downstream of the tempering section along the conveying direction; and winding the metal strip into a coil by a winder of an exit section arranged downstream of the rolling mill along the conveying direction.
[0046] The features, technical effects, advantages and embodiments described in relation to the device apply analogously to the method.
[0047] Page 7 Hemmerich & Colleagues
[0048] Preferably, the metal strip is fed into the rolling mill at a rolling temperature of at least 50 °C.
[0049] Preferably the metal strip is a hot-rolled strip with a thickness between 1.0 mm and 3.0 mm, more preferably between 1.5 mm and 2.5 mm, and particularly preferably between 1.8 mm and 2.3 mm.
[0050] Preferably, the metal strip is a steel strip containing silicon, wherein the composition of the metal strip may comprise the following: Si: 0.5 to 4.0%; C: <= 100 ppm; Al: <= 4.0%; S: <= 100 ppm; N: <= 100 ppm; P: <= 1000 ppm; Mn: 0.1 to 3.0%; Cu: <= 0.1%; B: <= 5 ppm; Sn: <= 100 ppm; Ti: <= 50 ppm; Zr: <= 50 ppm; O: <= 20 ppm.
[0051] Further advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments. The features described therein can be implemented individually or in combination with one or more of the features set out above, provided that the features do not contradict each other. The following description of preferred embodiments is given with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0052] Brief description of the characters
[0053] Preferred further embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail by the following description of the figures. These show:
[0054] Figure 1 schematically shows plant components and their sequence in a device for the production of non-grain-oriented electrical steel;
[0055] Figure 2 schematically shows a device for the production of non-grain-oriented electrical steel in a coupled operation of pickling section, tempering section and rolling mill;
[0056] Page 8 Hemmerich & Colleagues
[0057] Figure 3 schematically shows a device for the production of non-grain-oriented electrical steel according to a further embodiment, in a coupled operation of pickling section and rolling mill;
[0058] Figure 4 schematically shows a device for the production of non-grain-oriented electrical steel according to a further embodiment, in a coupled operation of pickling section and rolling mill with a parallel operation of the temperature control device; and
[0059] Figure 5 schematically shows a device for the production of non-grain-oriented electrical steel according to a further embodiment, in an independent, parallel operation of pickling section, temperature control device and rolling mill.
[0060] Detailed description of preferred embodiments
[0061] Preferred embodiments are described below with reference to the figures. Identical, similar, or equivalent elements in the figures are designated with identical reference numerals, and repeated descriptions of these elements are sometimes omitted to avoid redundancy.
[0062] Figure 1 schematically shows plant components and their sequence in a device 1 for the production of non-grain-oriented electrical steel. The plant components shown represent process steps that include pickling the scale-coated hot-rolled strip, annealing the descaled hot-rolled strip, and cold rolling the annealed hot-rolled strip in this sequence and in a single, integrated plant.
[0063] Page 9 Hemmerich & Colleagues
[0064] The device 1 comprises an infeed section 10 in which a metal strip 2 (see Figure 2) is first unwound and, if necessary, joined to the preceding metal strip 2 by means of a device (not shown in the figures) for joining two metal strips 2. The metal strip 2 is transported through the device 1 along a conveying direction F. A storage section 20 adjoins the infeed section 10 and has sufficient capacity to compensate for delays in the strip's movement within the infeed section 10, for example, those caused by a welding process. A pickling section 30 is installed downstream of the storage section 20 and removes the scale adhering to the metal strip 2. For annealing the metal strip 2, the device 1 is equipped with a tempering section 40, which is located downstream of the pickling section 30.Following the tempering section 40 is a rolling mill 50, specifically designed as a tandem rolling mill, to finish rolling the metal strip 2 to the desired final dimensions. Behind the rolling mill 50 is an exiting section 60, where the metal strip 2 is wound into a coil.
[0065] The starting material for the metal strip 2 can be a hot-rolled strip with a thickness d between 1.0 mm and 3.0 mm, preferably 1.5 mm and 2.5 mm, and particularly preferably between 1.8 mm and 2.3 mm. The composition of the hot-rolled strip can comprise the following: Si: 0.5 to 4.0%; C: ≤ 100 ppm; Al: ≤ 4.0%; S: ≤ 100 ppm; N: ≤ 100 ppm; P: ≤ 1000 ppm; Mn: 0.1 to 3.0%; Cu: ≤ 0.1%; B: ≤ 5 ppm; Sn: ≤ 100 ppm; Ti: ≤ 50 ppm; Zr: ≤ 50 ppm; O: ≤ 20 ppm. The remainder can consist of Fe and any unavoidable accompanying elements.
[0066] Figure 2 schematically shows a device 1 for the production of non-grain-oriented electrical steel in a coupled operation of pickling section 30, tempering section 40 and rolling mill 50.
[0067] The metal strip 2 (hot-rolled strip) is unwound from a coil in the entry area 10 of the device 1 by means of a winder 11 and optionally joined by means of a suitable strip joining device (not shown), for example a
[0068] Page 10 Hemmerich & Colleagues
[0069] welding machine or stapling machine, connected to the preceding metal strip 2.
[0070] The infeed section 10 can have a trimming shear (not shown) that trims the metal strip 2 in the infeed section 10 before it enters the storage section 20, thus preventing strip cracks, for example caused by edge cracks. Any strip edge heating, for example inductive strip edge heating such as inductive cross-field edge heating, upstream of the trimming shear prevents edge cracks and process delays.
[0071] To compensate for different and varying process speeds in various sections of the production line, the metal belt 2 optionally passes through storage section 20 following the infeed area 10. Storage section 20 functions as an infeed storage unit and includes, for example, a loop storage unit 21, which can be configured as a horizontal or vertical loop storage unit 21. Storage section 20 in the infeed area ensures that the system is continuously supplied with material, for example, during a welding process.
[0072] Behind storage section 20, the metal belt 2 passes through pickling section 30, comprising a pickling tank 31, which contains, for example, a hydrochloric acid pickling solution in which the scale adhering to the metal belt 2 is removed.
[0073] Downstream of the pickling section 30, the metal strip 2 is recrystallized in the tempering section 40. For this purpose, the tempering section 40 comprises a continuous annealing furnace 41. The recrystallization annealing of the metal strip 2 in the tempering section 40 takes place at a temperature T of at least 900 °C and at most 1250 °C, preferably at least 950 °C and at most 1200 °C, and particularly preferably at least 1000 °C and at most 1150 °C.
[0074] Page 11 Hemmerich & Colleagues
[0075] The temperature control section 40 can include active or passive cooling, which is regulated in such a way that the outgoing metal strip 2 passes through the first rolling pass of the subsequent rolling mill 50 at a temperature T_roll of at least 50 °C.
[0076] Any electrical heating of the annealing furnace 41 enables an emission-free design of the plant.
[0077] Rolling mill 50 is, for example, designed as a tandem rolling mill 51. In the tandem rolling mill 51, the strip thickness is reduced to the preferred final dimensions. For this purpose, the tandem rolling mill 51 comprises at least one, preferably several, rolling stands 52, which can be designed as 4-high, 6-high, 18-high, or 20-high stands.
[0078] After rolling in the rolling mill 50, the metal strip 2 reaches the exit area 60, where the metal strip 2 is wound into a coil by means of a winder 61.
[0079] In addition to the storage section 20 in the inlet area, the device 1 can include further storage sections 20 in the production line in order to compensate for any different processing speeds of the stations - pickling section 30, tempering section 40, rolling mill 50.
[0080] Figure 3 schematically shows a device 1 for the production of non-grain-oriented electrical steel according to a further embodiment, in a coupled operation of pickling section 30 and rolling mill 50.
[0081] A bypass device 70, which directs the metal strip 2 past the annealing furnace 41, enables the decoupling of the annealing furnace 41 from the rest of the plant and the operation of the plant as a combined pickling and rolling line.
[0082] Page 12 Hemmerich & Colleagues
[0083] A storage section 20 between pickling section 30 and temperature control section 40, but without the bypass device 70, enables the operation of pickling section 30 as an independent system.
[0084] Figure 4 schematically shows a device 1 for the production of non-grain-oriented electrical steel according to a further embodiment, in a coupled operation of pickling section 30 and rolling mill 50 with a parallel operation of the temperature control device 40.
[0085] An additional inlet area 10 together with an additional storage section 20 with loop storage 21 in front of the tempering section 40 and an additional storage section 20 with loop storage 21 together with an additional outlet area 60 behind the tempering section 40 enable independent operation of the tempering section 40 as a continuous annealing line.
[0086] Figure 5 schematically shows a device 1 for the production of non-grain-oriented electrical steel according to a further embodiment, in an independent, parallel operation of pickling section 30, temperature control unit 40 and rolling mill 50, in which individual infeed and outfeed areas 10, 60 with corresponding winders 11 and unwinders 61 are installed.
[0087] A separate outlet area 60 behind the pickling section 30 and in front of the temperature control section 40, for example, enables independent operation of the pickling section 30 in combination with a storage section 20.
[0088] An additional inlet area 10 together with an additional storage section 20 in front of the tempering section 40 and an additional storage section 20 together with an additional outlet area 60 behind the tempering section 40 enable the tempering section 40 to operate independently as a continuous annealing line.
[0089] Page 13 Hemmerich & Colleagues
[0090] The additional inlet areas 10 and outlet areas 60 can be bypassed, i.e., they are not mandatory in the process.
[0091] A combination of the aforementioned variants enables the division of device 1 into a continuous annealing line (CAL) and a combined pickling and rolling line (PLTCM), as well as the parallel operation of both separate plant sections.
[0092] Decoupling all plant components from each other and operating a separate pickling line, a separate continuous annealing line and a separate rolling mill 50 in parallel is also possible, as shown in Figure 5.
[0093] An additional strip heating device (not shown) can be installed upstream of the rolling mill 50 to heat metal strips 2 that have not reached the required preheating temperature or have cooled below a minimum rolling temperature T_rolling_min due to a delay or standstill.
[0094] A shotblaster and / or scalebreaker can be installed upstream of pickling section 30 to remove loosely adhering scale from the metal strip 2, to break up strongly adhering scale layers and / or to increase the effectiveness of pickling section 30.
[0095] The combination and, if necessary, coupling of the described process steps – in particular pickling for descaling the metal strip 2, recrystallization annealing for homogenizing the microstructure in the metal strip 2 and cold rolling of the metal strip 2 to the desired final dimensions – in a common plant or device 1, preferably without winding and unwinding between the stations, enables an increase in production rates or a reduction in investment costs compared to operating and acquiring several plants.
[0096] Device 1 allows for a compact design compared to, for example, three separate systems. In addition to high productivity, Device 1 is highly
[0097] Page 14 Hemmerich & Colleagues
[0098] Flexible deployment is possible through bypassing and / or decoupling individual system components and, depending on requirements, hybridizing them. Several different systems can be eliminated, resulting in further space savings. Device 1 is resource-efficient and, in particular, can be operated with low emissions.
[0099] Device 1 enables the production of non-grain-oriented electrical steel of consistent quality and different grades.
[0100] Where applicable, all individual features shown in the exemplary embodiments can be combined and / or exchanged without leaving the scope of the invention.
[0101] Page 15 Hemmerich & Colleagues
[0102] Reference symbol list
[0103] 1 Device for the production of non-grain-oriented electrical steel 2 Metal strip
[0104] 10 Inlet area
[0105] 11 liquidators
[0106] 20 Storage section
[0107] 21 loop storage
[0108] 30 Pickling section
[0109] 31 pickling tanks
[0110] 40 Temperature control section
[0111] 41 annealing furnace
[0112] 50 Rolling mill
[0113] 51 Tandem Walzstraße
[0114] 52 Rolling mill
[0115] 60 Outlet area
[0116] 61 winders
[0117] 70 Bypass device
[0118] F Conveyor direction
[0119] Page 16
Claims
Hemmerich & Colleagues Patent claims 1. Device (1) for producing non-grain-oriented electrical steel, wherein the device (1) comprises: an inlet area (10) which is set up to unwind a metal strip (2) from a coil by means of an unwinder (11) and transport it along a conveying direction (F); a pickling section (30) which is arranged and set up along the conveying direction (F) downstream of the inlet area (10) to treat the metal strip (2) with a pickling solution; a tempering section (40) which is arranged and set up along the conveying direction (F) downstream of the pickling section (30) to subject the metal strip (2) to recrystallization annealing; a rolling mill (50) arranged and set up along the conveying direction (F) downstream of the tempering section (40) to reduce the strip thickness of the metal strip (2) to a desired final dimension; and a discharge area (60) which is arranged and set up along the conveying direction (F) downstream of the rolling mill (50) to wind the metal strip (2) into a coil by means of a winder (61).
2. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one storage section (20) is arranged between the inlet area (10) and the pickling section (30) and / or between the pickling section (30) and the tempering section (40) and / or between the tempering section (40) and the rolling mill (50), which preferably comprises a loop storage unit (21). Page 17 Hemmerich & Colleagues 3. Device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the pickling section (30) has a pickling tank (31) with pickling solution, preferably hydrochloric acid pickling solution, through which the metal strip (2) can be transported.
4. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tempering section (40) has a continuous annealing furnace (41), preferably electrically heated, which is set up to heat the metal strip (2) to a temperature of at least 600°C and at most 1,300°C, preferably 900°C and at most 1,250°C, particularly preferably at least 950°C and at most 1,200°C, most particularly preferably at least 1,000°C and at most 1,150°C.
5. Device (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the tempering section (40) comprises a cooling system to cool the metal strip (2) to a desired rolling temperature.
6. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rolling mill (50) is implemented as a tandem rolling mill (51) with several rolling stands (52), preferably designed as 4-high, 6-high, 18-high or 20-high stands.
7. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (1) has a bypass device (70) which is configured to guide the metal strip (2) past the tempering section (40), wherein preferably a storage section (20) is installed between the pickling section (30) and the tempering section (40) and in front of the bypass device (70).
8. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an additional discharge area (60) is arranged behind the pickling section (30) and in front of the tempering section (40), and / or an additional Page 18 Hemmerich & Colleagues inlet area (10) together with an additional storage section (20) in front of the temperature control section (40) and an additional storage section (20) together with an additional outlet area (60) behind the temperature control section (40), and / or an additional inlet area (10) in front of the rolling mill (50) and behind the temperature control section (40).
9. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pickling section (30), the tempering section (40) and the rolling mill (50) are combined in a single system.
10. A method for producing non-grain-oriented electrical steel, wherein the method comprises: Unwinding a metal strip (2) from a coil by an unwinder (11) of an inlet area (10) and transporting the metal strip (2) along a conveying direction (F); Treating the metal strip (2) with a pickling solution in a pickling section (30) which is arranged along the conveying direction (F) downstream of the inlet area (10); Recrystallization annealing of the metal strip (2) in a tempering section (40) which is arranged along the conveying direction (F) downstream of the pickling section (30); Reducing the strip thickness of the metal strip (2) to a desired final dimension in a rolling mill (50) arranged along the conveying direction (F) downstream of the tempering section (40); and Page 19 Hemmerich & Colleagues Winding of the metal strip (2) into a coil by a winder (61) of a discharge area (60) which is arranged along the conveying direction (F) downstream of the rolling mill (50).
11. Method according to claim 10, characterized in that the method is carried out with a device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9.
12. Method according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the metal strip (2) is fed into the rolling mill (50) at a rolling temperature of at least 50 °C.
13. Method according to one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the metal strip (2) is a hot-rolled strip with a thickness between 1.0 mm and 3.0 mm, preferably between 1.5 mm and 2.5 mm, particularly preferably between 1.8 mm and 2.3 mm.
14. A method according to any one of claims 10 to 13, characterized in that the metal strip (2) is a steel strip containing silicon, wherein the composition of the metal strip (2) preferably comprises the following: Si: 0.5 to 4.0%; C: <= 100 ppm; Al: <= 4.0%; S: <= 100 ppm; N: <= 100 ppm; P: <= 1000 ppm; Mn: 0.1 to 3.0%; Cu: <= 0.1%; B: <= 5 ppm; Sn: <= 100 ppm; Ti: <= 50 ppm; Zr: <= 50 ppm; O: <= 20 ppm. Page 20