A universal cassette type stand for a continuous rolling line which can be converted from a universal beam stand having two horizontal rolls and two vertical rolls into a stand having two horizontal rolls for rolling structural shapes. Each horizontal and vertical roll includes two hydraulic tightening jacks each associated with a different chock. Each jack is provided with a servo-valve, a position sensor, and a pressure probe. The supply of each jack is servo-controlled by a regulation loop where the measurement of the tightening is transformed into a position reference depending on the modulus of either the lower or upper part or sides of the stand. The regulation or control loop is such that one of several alternatives for rolling the beam to a desired mode can be accomplished. For instance, the loop can be set up to obtain (1) a constant web, constant flange thickness while maintaining symmetry of the web relative to the flange, or (2) the loop can be set up to obtain a ratio thickness of web relative to the flanges while still maintaining symmetry of the web relative to the flange.