A process and apparatus are provided for producing an electrolytically
coated, hot-rolled steel strip without any intervening strips. The
apparatus includes a chemical pickling section being combined in one line
with an electrolytic coating section containing electrolytic cells so that
the pickled steel strip is fed directly to the electrolytic coating
section without any intermediate steps. The spent electrolyte solution
from the electrocoating section to the pickling section to pickle the
steel. The spent pickling acid can also be used to generate the
electrolyte solution that is fed to the electrocoating section.
