CMI Processing Lines offers a wide range of annealing lines based on in-house know-how. This is driven by ever more demanding requirements in steel mechanical properties.

CMI could propose a conventional dry (HNx) process (100°C/sec cooling speed) or a wet (IWAC-Howaq) process (1000° C/sec cooling speed).

This wet process is characterized by quenching in boiling water/cold water and pickling in formic acid. It offers many major advantages, such as :

• Starting from the annealing temperature, a high average cooling rate in a single step for optimized mechanical properties;
• A very homogeneous heat exchange across the entire width of the strip to ensure a good strip flatness;
• Very accurate temperature control at the exit of the quenching section to control the overaging step;
• Removal of oxidated impurities on the surface of the steel and obtaining of an iron-rich surface having low sensitivity to further red rust;
• Freedom from stresses during transitional conditions .

These advantages are translated into many substantial benefits :

• Exceptional corrosion resistance of the steel surface ;
• Excellent suitability for subsequent treatments : superior phosphatability, excellent adhesion of metal coatings and suitability for numerous coating (organic, electro, PVC):
• Exceptional smoothness ;
• Very homogeneous mechanical properties ;
• A considerable reduction in operating costs and a high degree of energy saving (electrical);
• Easy to operate and with flexible programming.

For the implementation of continuous annealing lines, other CMI poles are involved such as :

• Thermal processes
• Chemical processes
• Services