The profession of a rolling mill operator is certainly one of the exceptional ones in Slovakia. Vladimír Herbert works in the Cold Rolling Mill as a rolling mill operator of the 1st mill on a five-stand tandem, where coils are processed by cold rolling. Cold-rolled coils, sheets and strips on a five-stand line are mainly used in the packaging industry, in the food or chemical industry, as well as in the electrical industry.
"Rolling mills are the imaginary heart of the Cold Rolling Mill. From the warehouse of pickled coils, the crane loads the coils onto a conveyor and they come towards us. Our task is to roll the coil to the final thickness, then it continues for further processing. The difference between a four-stand and a five-stand tandem is mainly in the thickness of the rolled material. On a five-stand track we specialize in thinner material,"
he describes.
"There used to be a rolling mill operator position for every mill, today it is the position of rolling mill – operator. The former foreman remained the position called rolling mill operator of the 1st mill. We take care of both, rolling as well as the overall operation of the track. Operator is responsible for loading and unloading the belt, the rolling itself and quality control. He is capable of filling in for any colleague, including the direct superior, including physical work from the input part of the rolling mill, through binding and strapping of coils, to the control room."
He likes challenges
The rolling process is controlled from the control room by a process computer, supported by a mathematical model computer. The screen displays parameters such as pressures, pulls, speeds, belt profile, rolling progress, resonances, and coil records. Unsatisfactory flatness of the strip is checked by a device that is part of the track. However, the quality of the coils is checked visually by the rollers. In case of errors, they look for the root cause.
"It is most often in the cylinders – there is a blister, sticking, or crack on them. In that case, we have to replace them. The most physically demanding are undesirable events on the track when the belt is torn. When it breaks, the track stops either automatically or manually and we need to pull it out. Sometimes the equipment helps us, sometimes unfortunately not and we have to pull the sheets by hand."
Vladimír Herbert does not run away from work decisions, on the contrary: "Many are afraid of responsibility, I welcome it, I don't know why, I guess it's in my nature. I like challenges, the feeling when something is on my shoulders and I have to make a decision."
Study is a priority
Vladimír took advantage of his employer's offer to study at the Faculty of Materials, Metallurgy and Recycling at the Technical University of Košice. He is studying metallurgy. He has already obtained his bachelor's degree and will complete his engineering studies in the next school year. What motivates him?
"I see it as an opportunity to increase my qualifications, broaden my horizons and possibilities," he says. When asked if it is difficult to combine work with study, he answers honestly: "Everything is possible when you want to, but I hoped it would be easier. I devote all my free time to school and studing, so all other activities and hobbies have to go aside. However, I like sports, I sometimes play football with my friends in the gym recreationally."
Vladimír has already appeared in the Cold Rolling Mill football team at the company's Summer Sports Games. He is also a 17-time blood donor. His plans for the near future are clear: to successfully complete university studies.
