Guiding hot or cold products such as strip, rod, bar and plate into rolling mills and other finishing processes is a common industrial problem. The product contact surface fails by wear and the bearings fail by lack of lubrication. The use of self lubricating bearings and wear resistant claddings has improved life cycle for these types of applications.

Slideways for adjustment of guide systems typically use lubricated bronze or cast iron against steel. Lubrication failure, or dirt trapped in the lubricant are common causes of degradation. Buttonized or TRIBOLITE^® coated slideway wear plates can reduce or eliminate dependence on third party lubrication, while providing a greatly improved life cycle.

Compliant guiding of hot or cold mill product is a way to reduce the impact damage and high stress associated with steering a product through the next operation. Rigidity in a guiding system puts very high stresses on the contacting surface, and can possibly damage the product. Compliant guiding reduces the impact stresses without loss of the guiding function. This feature is particularly important when guiding the "tail" of a hot strip into a downcoiler.