Exact knowledge of the surface roughness and thickness of the oil layer provides pressing plants in the automotive industry with enormous potential in terms of reducing their waste and enhancing process reliability before continuing to process aluminium strip or plate material. The oil layer measurement, however, has specific requirements. The trend is towards higher strength material with thinner oil layers, which, overall, means enhanced requirements for the pressing process in terms of accuracy. Due to the close relationship between the oil layer and material roughness, as well as the significant influence they have on the forming process, e.g. for the automobile manufacturer, accurate monitoring and control of both factors during production of the strip will provide the aluminium manufacturer with an important competitive advantage

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