How to Operate a Steel Cut to Length Line Safely: Best Practices for Coil Processing Operators

Introduction: Why Safety Matters in Coil Processing

Steel cut to length line is a powerful, high-speed system designed to uncoil, level, cut and stack light to heavy steel coils into flat sheets. While they boost productivity, they also pose operational risks - especially in high-volume or long-term environments.

Ensuring operator safety, machine integrity, and process reliability starts with proper tranining, awareness and maintenance. 

Know Your Machine: Basic Understanding Is the First Step

• Main machine structure: decoiler, leveler, shear, stacker
• High-risk zones: Rotary shearer shafts, Loop pits, Stacker unloading zones
• The PLC interface and emergency stop locations
• Start-up and shut-down sequences

Kinbenz machines come with user-friendly touch screens, visual alarms, and automatic diagnostics to support safe operations.

Pre-operation Checklist: Safety Starts Before Pressing the Start Button

Loading Coil Parts:

• Use a coil car or crane to place the coil onto the decoiler
• Confim the coil is centered and the mandrel is securely expanded
• Watch for coil bounce or slippage when uncoiling

Leveler Parts:

• Always make adjustments with the machine stopped and powered down
• Never insert hands between rollers
• Pay attention to the metal coils is completely flat and make adjustments if necessary

Shearing Parts: