Inline Crack Inspection of Cold-Rolled Steel Strip
Surface cracks in cold-rolled steel strips can lead to costly scrap and quality issues. Inline eddy current testing detects defects in real time during production.
The challenge
Cold-rolled steel strips are used in demanding applications where even the smallest surface defects can affect product quality and downstream processing. Conventional inspection methods such as visual inspection, ultrasonic testing or sampling-based quality control often fail to detect every defect, allowing defective material to continue through production. At the same time, manufacturers face increasing quality requirements, rising labor costs and growing pressure to deliver consistently defect-free material.
Reliable inline inspection is therefore essential to identify defects as early as possible and prevent unnecessary scrap and rework.
The solution
FOERSTER's TCM enables continuous inline inspection of cold-rolled steel strips using Eddy Current Array (ECA) technology.
Integrated directly into the production line, TCM combines high-sensitivity array probes with advanced signal processing software to inspect the entire strip width in real time. Surface cracks are detected immediately, allowing defective material to be identified before subsequent processing steps.
The system supports efficient inline inspection through:
- 100% inspection during production
- High-resolution Eddy Current Array (ECA) testing
- Real-time defect detection and visualization
- Automated inline quality control without manual inspection
The result
Continuous inline inspection enables defects to be detected immediately, reducing scrap, rework and unnecessary production costs. By replacing sampling-based inspections with automated 100% testing, the TCM lowers inspection effort while improving process reliability. Reliable compliance with demanding quality requirements strengthens product quality and supports competitiveness in international steel markets.
The products
Multi-Method Inspection
TCM Product Family
One mobile device for all eddy current testing tasks