A new SSMR process to produce ultra-fine-grained hot strip is introduced,featuring: closely spaced rolling stands, continuous highspeed rolling with moderately large reductions rolling, rapid interpasscooling and rapid finish rolling cooling. An ultra-fine-grained CMnsteel strip (1μm) is obtained with a 700 MPa yield stress. Aproper choice of the work roll diameter and a careful control of thefriction coefficient should make it possible to keep the rolling forceat a level compatible with the design capacity of a conventional rollingmill.