Hot strip mills in these days are either conventional hot strip mills or strip mills for rolling thin slabs. The primary function of the conventional hot strip mill (HSM) is to reheat the semi-finished steel slabs (rolled or continuously cast) to the rolling temperatures and then to roll them thinner and longer through a series of rolling mill stands driven by large motors and finally coiling up the lengthened steel sheet for its easy handling and transport. The hot strip mill supplies coils for cold rolling mill, strip shearing and slitting units as well as a finished product for shipment directly to the customers.

Attributes imparted to the strip by the hot rolled strip mill include surface quality, thickness, width, and flatness control as well as strip profile.