How Is Slit Line Used? | Find the Best Piece of Equipment for Your Facility

If you work in metal processing or are at least familiar with the industry, you’ve probably heard of or used a slit line. Slit line is used to break down metal coils into smaller pieces so that they can be further processed.

Before metal is cut or shaped, it comes as a massive coil that can weigh 10,000 lbs or more. Obviously, this is not a reasonable shape or size for most client applications, which is why a slit line is necessary to break the metal down. Once it is passed through the slit line, it can be cut to fit the customer’s needs before it’s shipped off and used in applications around the world.

Slit line is an essential part of metal processing, which is why it’s important to choose the right slit line machine for your facility. This means considering factors like the length and width of the metal coil, the type of material being used, and the end product you’re hoping to achieve.

There are several different types of slit lines that may or may not be applicable in your field of work. Take, for example, light gauge slitting line, medium gauge slitting line, and heavy gauge slitting line. Selecting the slit line you need starts with these three types.

Light slit line can produce coils from .15 mm to 4mm thick and can work at speeds of up to 2400 feet per minute. It can process aluminum, tin plates, stainless steel, and electrical steel. The choice to utilize a light gauge slit line depends on the needs of your business. This is a popular choice for lower volume metal materials that still need to be processed quickly.

Medium gauge slitting line has a slightly higher capacity, accepting coils that weigh up to 100,000 lbs. It can metals .157 to .25 inches thick and can run at speed up to1200 feet per minute depending on the manufacturer you choose. Medium gauge slit line is often used in scrap winding and scrap chopper systems.

Finally, heavy gauge slitting lines are designed to slit high-strength materials that require powerful equipment for processing. Although these slit lines don’t work as fast, they are the ideal choice if you have to process high volumes of heavy metal. In general, heavy-gauge slit lines can coil with capacities of 100,000 lbs, .75 inch thickness, and 96 inches wide. You can expect your heavy gauge slit run to run at around 500 feet per minute.

Once you determine your facility needs and the capacity of your workload, you’ll have a better idea of which type of slit line is best for your business.

In addition to doing ample research about slit lines and their capabilities, the best thing you can do for your business is to find a reputable manufacturer of metal processing equipment. Whether you’re installing a heavy gauge slit line or a smaller one, there’s no denying that this is a huge investment.

Slitting lines are massive and require you to make space in your business for your new piece of equipment. That means you want the best, longest-lasting slit line on the market.

Be prepared to compare manufacturers and always have your machine requirements nearby. If you know exactly what type of slit line you’re looking for, you have a better chance of seeing success.