Pre-ageing systems and methods using magnetic heating

A pre-ageing system comprising:

• a reheater for accepting a metal strip moving in a downstream direction, wherein the reheater comprises a magnetic rotor, wherein the magnetic rotor rotates about an axis of rotation that is perpendicular to the downstream direction and parallel to a lateral width of a surface of the metal strip facing the magnetic rotor;
• a sensor configured to detect at least one operating parameter of the metal strip;
• a controller configured to control the magnetic rotor based on the at least one operating parameter;
• and
• a rewind coiler arranged downstream from the reheater,
• wherein the magnetic rotor is positioned a predetermined distance spaced apart from a passline of the metal strip through the reheater, wherein the magnetic rotor is positioned adjacent to the metal strip and spaced apart from the metal strip via an air gap, and
• wherein the reheater is configured to:
• receive the metal strip adjacent the magnetic rotor;
• and
• rotate the magnetic rotor to induce a magnetic field into the metal strip to heat the metal strip at a pre-ageing temperature of from about 60° C. to 150° C., and
• wherein the rewind coiler is configured to wind the metal strip heated at the pre-ageing temperature into a coil while the metal strip is cooling from the pre-ageing temperature,
• wherein the controller is configured to control at least a vertical distance between the magnetic rotor and the metal strip.