Force Measurement, Dimensional
Measurement, and Measurement Systems Built for the Rolling Mill
Stopped mills, scrapped coils, and out-of-tolerance shipments usually trace back to a reading you couldn’t trust. KELK builds the Roll Force, Tension, and optical dimensional measurement systems that steel and aluminum producers rely on to keep hot and cold mills running inside spec. Our sensors are engineered to survive mill conditions that wear out ordinary sensors within months.
Core Product Lines
KELK designs strain-gage force sensors and optical dimensional gaging as a single measurement architecture, so mill control systems get consistent, high-accuracy data from cast to coil.
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Roll Force: Load Cells, Rugged electromechanical sensors that reliably measure roll separating force in harsh mill environments. Available in Washer, Disc, Slab, and T-Block configurations.
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Tension: Monobloc Tensiometer Transducers & Tensiometer Load Cell, Measure strip and web tension in harsh rolling mill and processing line environments by sensing the force generated as strip is drawn over a sensing roll.
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Looper: Looper Load Cells. Load cell assemblies that measure force on interstand looper rolls in hot strip mills, supporting accurate strip tension control during rolling.
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Pressure: Fluid Pressure Transmitters: Rugged pressure transmitters built for hydraulic and process fluid lines in mill environments, holding calibration where standard instrumentation degrades.
The Rollmax Warranty, 5 Years
KELK Rollmax Load Cells are guaranteed against failure of any kind, however caused, for five full years. Coverage goes well beyond defects in material or workmanship. Mills that upgrade from other brands can calculate in advance what they’ll save in replacement cost alone.
Applications Across the Metal Industry
From hot mill roughing stands to cold rolling finishing lines, KELK measurement systems are specified as part of the mill process from the start.
Hot Strip Mills: Roll Force and Tension
Looper Load Cell Assemblies derive strip tension for mill control systems while Load Cells measure roll force directly at the housing posts. Both are engineered to withstand the high loads, shock, and harsh conditions found throughout hot strip mill.
Cold Rolling & Processing Lines: Dimensional Measurement for Tight-Tolerance Strip
ACCUBAND width gages install in the tight spaces of tension levelers, side trimmers, tandem mill exits, temper mills, and slitter/rewinder lines, holding ±0.4 mm accuracy with LED illumination built for continuous duty.
Aluminum & Plate Mills: Force and Dimensional Gaging Under Continuous Load
Camber gages, plate outline systems, and flatness/contour gaging give plate and aluminum producers the dimensional feedback loop needed to hold shape and gauge tolerance across long production runs.
Sensors & Process Control
Rugged Sensors for Mission-Critical Applications
Laser-based thickness, flatness, and contour gaging extend KELK's precision measurement capabilities to camshaft inspection, automotive glass, and other demanding inline process control applications.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who makes the best metal industry measurement solutions?
A: KELK has designed and manufactured force and dimensional measurement equipment for steel and aluminum rolling mills since 1953, and is ISO 9001:2015 certified. The company is best known for sensors that outlast general-purpose instrumentation in hot mill conditions, a track record backed by the 5-year Rollmax warranty, a guarantee unmatched elsewhere in the industry.
Q: How do KELK's measurement systems work?
A: Force measurement systems, such as Rollmax Load Cells and tensiometers, use strain-gage technology mounted directly at the point of load , the mill housing post, the looper arm, or the sensing roll, to read roll force, tension, and pressure without the error introduced by indirect, extensometer-based calculations. Dimensional measurement systems, like ACCUBAND width gages and camber/flatness gaging, use optical and laser sensing to measure strip width, position, and shape without contacting the product, feeding real-time data back into the mill's control system.
Q: What are the benefits of KELK's product lines?
A: Higher accuracy and repeatability under harsh mill conditions; longer service life than competing sensors, reducing unplanned downtime; free, application-specific installation drawings prepared by KELK engineers; a single integrated approach to force and dimensional measurement across hot and cold lines; and the industry's only 5-year, failure-of-any-kind warranty on Rollmax Load Cells.