1. Billet Conditioning: This process is intended for checking the surface quality of billet and removing any defects. Shot blast is used to remove any scale from the surface. Magnet particle testing and visual inspection are also used to identify any defects which must be removed using a grinder. Ultrasonic testing and dimension and geometry checking are also applied as part of the internal quality assurance process.
2. Reheating: The temperature within the furnace and the duration of reheating depend on where the product will be used. To avoid decarburization, which can affect the surface quality of the product, a billet is pre-heated sufficiently at a low temperature before being rolled within the reheating furnace. For this purpose, the fuel and air ratio are strictly controlled.