Abstract: The machine removes burrs from slabs (1) issuing from a continuous casting plant and cut to length by an oxygen cutting. The machine is of the type having a rotor mounted horizontally in a frame and carrying on its periphery means for removing the burrs. The burr removing means are self-retractable hammers (8) whose head (10) describes an envelope which is rendered substantially tangent to the lower side of the slab (1) by means (40, 36) for moving the rotor (4) vertically in translation carried by the frame (21, 22). The rotor (4) is driven by a driving shaft (51) whose rotation is controlled in one direction or the other by a control device as a function of the detection (C1, C2, C3) of the passage of the head end or foot end of the slab.