Abstract: The surface roughness and flatness of cold rolled strips are important control aims, especially when cold strip coils are processed in batch-type annealing furnaces. However, it is found that surface roughness control is in contradiction with strip flatness control in the production of 2030 mm cold tandem mills. Based on lots of tests and measurements, originating and developing principles of strip flatness and surface roughness were studied. According to the results of research, solutions for the problem were proposed and proved to be effective in strip production.