PURPOSE: To drastically reduce the variation of a backward tension to a rolled stock after it passes through a finishing mill by lowering the steed of each runout table in sequence by an amount of lag whenever the end of a rolled stock passes through sorted boundaries.

CONSTITUTION: After the rolled stock 1 is rolled by the finishing mill 3, it is guided to a take-up machine 6 through many runout tables 4 and a pinch roll 5. Many these runout tables 4 are sorted by a prescribed number and the respective material detectors 10, 11, 12, 13 are equipped on those boundaries. Whenever these material detectors 10, 11, 12, 13 detect the end of the rolled stock 1, steed references which are reduced by an amount of lag (about 5%) in sequence are outputted. In this way, while the end of the rolled stock 1 moves on the runout table the variation of the backward tension can be kept small. Consequently, deterioration of the coil shape caused by a large change of the backward tension and flaws on the surface of the material caused by slip can be prevented.