A rollerman operates or assists at a rolling mill stand by feeding hot billets, bars, or sheets into the heavy steel rolls. In older manual mills, this physically demanding job required using long tongs to catch and return the fast-moving, red-hot steel through successive passes. In highly automated facilities, rollermen monitor the stands, adjust roll gaps, and ensure the metal tracks straight without cobbling.
Heard on the job
The rollerman signaled a hold on the roughing stand while they cleared a cobbled billet.
Insider tip
The traditional rollerman had to memorize the timing and rhythm of the mill perfectly, as a missed catch with the tongs meant a ruined bar or severe injury.