Thick Plate Technology for the Last 100 Years: A World Leader in Thermo Mechanical Control Process

The history of construction of thick plate mills in Japan and trends in the development of rolling technology (gauge control, plan view control, and crown control) during the 100 year history of plate technology in this country are discussed in outline, and the Thermo Mechanical Control Process (TMCP) is reviewed. In 1901, the blast furnace at the state-owned Yawata Steel Works was blown-in and the medium gauge plate mill was started up, followed by startup of a 3-high rolling mill in 1905. Today, Japan has an annual thick plate production capacity of more than 10 million tons. Various important technical advances have also been achieved over the years, including gauge control, plan view pattern control, and crown control. The Thermo Mechanical Control Process was applied to controlled rolling for the first time in the 1960s, and accelerated cooling was applied in the 1980s. These technologies first reached full maturity in Japan and are now global technologies. The heat-treatment on-line process was also developed and continues to be a world-leading technology.