KELK PRODUCTS

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ROLL FORCE
Rollmax Roll Force Measurement Load Cell
Rollmax Load Cells image

Today's KELK Rollmax Load Cells - The Best of the Best

Incorporating strain gages as sensing elements and constructed from solid, high strength stainless steel forgings, they are always the strongest part of any millstand. KELK Load Cells have out performed and have outlived all competitive products when used as replacements in the same mills.

With higher overload capability, better accuracy, superior temperature compensation, lower error from uneven loading, and an incredible warranty, KELK Rollmax Load Cells are always the best value.

Strain Extensometers image

KELK Strain Extensometers

Extensometers are simple, economical sensors attached to rolling mill housings to measure the strain in the housing posts resulting from roll force. Roll force can be derived from these measurements, but due to outside influences, these calculated results can never be as accurate as direct load cell force measurement. However, there are applications in which strain gage extensometers can provide useful rolling information, and in such cases KELK can provide extensometers that are superior to all competitive products.

Roll Force Before

In the beginning of rolling mill time there were no load cells. Mill setup was entrusted to the skills of experienced operators who made careful manual adjustments on a slab to slab or strip to strip basis. When strain gages, and then extensometers, and finally load cells became available, they were used to monitor roll force at first only for research purposes, and then to warn mill operators of impending overload.

In the 1950's everything changed when Automatic Gage Control (AGC) was applied to both single and multi-stand mills. The computers running AGC algorithms required input from sensors in and around each mill stand, and the most important parameter was roll force. Load cells became critical components of AGC systems. Over the years many different kinds of roll force load cells have been developed and applied to mills - strain gage based, magnetic, capacitive, pneumatic, etc. - but most have long been abandoned.

ROLLMAX 5 Year Warranty

KELK Rollmax Load Cells have proven to be so rugged and reliable that they can be offered with an incredible - and unique - guarantee.

The Rollmax Warranty protects KELK users not only against defects in workmanship or material but against failure of any kind, however caused, for a period of 5 years!

This means that customers that upgrade to KELK load cells from lesser brands can easily calculate the savings that will accrue over the next 5 years - their cost for load cell replacements and repairs is guaranteed to be reduced to zero!

KELK Rollmax Load Cells are custom designed to fit each mill precisely, in order to guarantee the very best performance and longest life before rebuilding.

Four different Load Cell types are available, each developed from years of experience in thousands of rolling mill applications worldwide:

Rollmax Load Cells Application Info image

  • Washer Load Cell
    Above the nut in electro-mechanical screwdown mills
  • Disc Load Cell
    Above the top chock
  • Slab Load Cell
    Below the rocker block
  • T-Block Load Cell
    Below the rocker bloc

Working from mill drawings, KELK engineers choose the best load cell options for each application, and then prepare a complete and detailed installation drawing - free of charge - for the customer to approve.

Loading Plates Are Available From KELK:

KELK installation drawings include any specially designed loading plates that may be needed for each application. The customer may choose to have these plates made locally - to KELK specifications - but they may also be ordered directly from KELK, saving the customer both time and engineering effort.

KELK Strain Gage Extensometers:

In single pass mills not rolling 'below face', it is possible to calculate roll force from extensometer signals. KELK Strain Gage Extensometers are designed to measure the strain in mill housing posts with minimum error from outside influences. Moreover, a special extensometer calibration system* is available from KELK to virtually eliminate calculation errors.

KELK engineers can help the customer determine whether extensometer measurement is a viable option to the use of load cells, and will prepare installation drawings showing the optimum mounting positions.

* The calibration system can also serve as a useful research department tool for the measurement and confirmation of mill modulus in load cell equipped mill stands!

KELK Rollmax Load Cells are designed to last longer than any other load cells, and have done so consistently over several decades.

Moreover, unlike lesser brands, KELK load cells do not have to be replaced with new cells after reaching the end of their useful life. Instead they can be rebuilt by KELK to better-than-new standards in a shorter time - and at less cost - than new replacement cells.

Through a repetitive rebuilding process KELK load cells never have to be scrapped, and indeed many have outlived the mills in which they were originally installed!

The unique KELK 5 Year Rollmax Warranty is available for rebuilt KELK load cells as well as for new cells - contact KELK for details.

Note: Only KELK can repair and rebuild KELK load cells to KELK standards, and no other company has ever been authorized to do so!