Abstract: A multivariable system model was constructed with strip flatness and thickness as the control obieetives and with bending force and gauge as the main control variables for a combined shape and gauge system, and its mathematical expression was presented on the base of some industrial data in hot strip rolling process. Taking various kinds of secondary factors, perturbation and disturbance into consideration, a full order robust controller was given with the robust control toolbox in Matlab, and then a low-order controller was developed through balancing approximation in closed-loop design. Simulation results show the good performance of decoupling, anti-disturbance and anti-parameter-perturbation.