Abstract: A marking apparatus, system and method is described wherein metal products such as steel billets, blooms, and slabs are marked for identification essentially as they issue from the throat of a casting system and are at elevated temperatures. The apparatus includes a cutter having abrasive cutting components which forms a groove in the rough cut end surface of the metal components, the formation of which immediately is followed by the movement of a driven pin indentation type marking apparatus along the thus-formed slot. Positioning of the metal component is provided by a clamp structure which initially functions to decelerate the component as it moves along a casting table and then to clamp it into position for marking. The apparatus is designed to carry out the entire marking procedure within the short window of available time typically encountered in a continuous casting process.