Abstract: In a method of and apparatus for continuously casting a steel strand with a mould having a closed bottom molten steel is cast from a casting container into the mould, and the mould is moved away in a substantially horizontal direction to form a strand with a solidified skin and a liquid core, which strand is longer than the mould. Then the strand outside the mould is supplied with heat to maintain a uniform temperature of the liquid core, which temperature is higher than the liquidus temperature of the steel over most of the longitudinal extension of the strand.

Abstract: A plant for refining molten pig iron has a converter surrounded by a carrying ring which is tiltable about a horizontal axis by oppositely arranged carrying trunnions and at least one water-cooled hook-shaped blowing lance which looks like an inverted U. The lance is liftably and lowerably arranged on a vertically stationary, but horizontally rotatable, vertical lance guide located at a position lateral of the converter and outside its tilting area. At least one lance car guides the water-cooled lance on the vertically stationary lance guide.