Method of controlling a roll gap in a rolling mill

A method of controlling a roll gap between first and second work rolls of a rolling mill, wherein work surfaces of the first and second work rolls are arranged in opposing relationship and respective longitudinal axes of the rolls are lying in a common plane;

• in use the work surfaces are spaced apart so as to form a gap for receiving a metallic product for rolling,
• the method comprising:
• defining a plurality of work surface locations spaced apart along the first work roll in the longitudinal direction;
• obtaining, with a plurality of sensors arranged along a row, a radius of the work surface of the first work roll at each of the work surface locations by activating the sensors repeatedly while rotating the first work roll;
• based on the radii of the work surface locations, obtaining a longitudinal profile of the work surface;
• based on the longitudinal profile, tilting the first work roll relative to the second work roll in the common plane in order to reduce a difference in the average size of the gap at either side of a centerline which bisects the longitudinal axes of the first and second work rolls.