Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the computer-aided planning of a plant in the basic materials industry, in particular a metallurgical plant and/or facility, with provision of component and/or plant data in a data structure and input of user-specific data and/or specifications via a user interface (6) by an authorized user (1) and configuration of the plant by linking user-specific data and/or specifications together with component and/or plant data present in the data structure by means of models describing plants in the basic materials industry and/or the processes used in the basic materials industry, and output of the configured product in the form of a structured configuration proposal. The present invention also relates to a configurator.

Abstract: There is disclosed a plant for producing a hot-rolled product from a cast strand comprising two or several continuous casters and a rolling mill associated therewith and respective guide sections for transporting a strand piece separated from the cast strand. A pivotable or laterally displaceable guide section is each provided in at least one line of the rolling mill and in a line not registering with the former, of the continuous caster. The guide sections are capable of being aligned in a mutually registering position. In order to reach a high plant availability, at least one pivotable and/or laterally displaceable guide section is provided with two or several guide parts each serving to receive strand pieces and capable of being alternately aligned to register with the line of the rolling mill.