On-line characterization of the grain structure and properties of steels is an important aim in the steel industry, particularly in order to verify the homogeneity now required because of the increasing automation being introduced by steel users. The aim is evaluate the potential offered by ultrasonic techniques for measurement of grain size and texture anisotropy in sheets of various grades and of thicknesses between 0.6 and 2 mm by evaluating the limits and accuracy with a view to industrial use in the near future.