Method for rolling a ring-shaped rolling product having an open cylindrical cross section in a ring rolling machine, and ring rolling machine for carrying out the method

A method for rolling a ring-shaped rolling product (5) having an open cylindrical cross section in a ring rolling machine (1), comprising:

• holding an inductor (12) at a predefined coupling distance relative to the rolling product (5);
• rolling the rolling product (5);
• moving the inductor (12) during the rolling in accordance with a change in dimensions of the rolling product (5);
• applying an alternating magnetic field into the rolling product (5) using the inductor (12) and thereby inductively heating the rolling product (5) during the rolling;
• detecting an actual distance between the inductor (12) and the rolling product (5) by tactile sensing during the rolling using at least two sensing rollers or at least two spacers (16) that are in engagement with an outer circumference of the rolling product (5);
• and
• automatically controlling the coupling distance as a function of the actual distance.