Rolling mill finishing section

A single strand hot rolling mill finishing section comprising:

• a plurality of multi-stand prefinishing rolling units arranged along a first pass line segment;
• transfer means for selectively shifting said prefinishing rolling units into and out of operative positions on said first pass line segment;
• a multi-stand finishing rolling unit and a multi-stand post finishing rolling unit arranged sequentially along a second pass line segment, said second pass line segment being offset with respect to said first pass line segment;
• and
• switch means and associated delivery guides for directing products from said first pass line segment to said second pass line segment either at a location upstream of said finishing rolling unit, or alternatively at a location between said finishing rolling unit and said post finishing rolling unit, said transfer means and said switch means and associated delivery guides being selectively operable to precede final rolling in said post finishing rolling unit with or without rolling in said finishing rolling unit and with or without rolling in one or more of said prefinishing rolling units.