Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for the metallurgical aftertreatment of premelted metals, especially steel, consisting of a cylindrical ladle receiving the melt and closed by means of a cover and one or more electrodes passing through the cover and intended for heating the melt via electric arcs. The electrodes consist of metal castings, preferably of continuous-casting billets, which have a composition corresponding to the analysis of the metal melt. The invention also relates to a process for the aftertreatment of steel melts with very low carbon contents or with narrow carbon tolerances, in which electrodes consisting of a continuously cast low-carbon steel billets are used to heat the steel melt via electric arcs.