Abstract: In a process for producing a hot-rolled product by continuously casting a strand, separating a strand piece from the strand, thermally influencing the strand piece by temperature equalization and/or strand piece heating and hot-rolling the strand piece, continuous casting takes place at two or several continuous casters. The strand pieces are rolled in a rolling mill associated with these continuous casters, to which the strand pieces are conducted by diverting the strand pieces into the line of the rolling mill from at least one of the continuous casters whose line does not register with the line of the rolling mill. In order to reach a higher plant availability, thermal influence of the strand pieces to be diverted is effected during the diversion of the strand pieces after their emergence from the continuous caster line and prior to their introduction into the rolling mill line while completely clearing the continuous caster lines and the rolling mill line.

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.