Abstract: Anodes are releasably attached to an anode beam. If an anode is burnt-away so far that it must be exchanged, then it is exchanged with the help of a crane. The burnt-away anode is pulled out until, after passing through a certain travel the surface facing the cathode has reached a predetermined horizontal plane. The distance travelled through until then is stored. The new anode is positioned with the surface facing the cathode in a second horizontal plane and is lowered towards the cathode in accordance with measurement of the stored travel the distance between the two horizontal planes and possibly with regard to different saggings of the crane caused by the different weights of the new and the old anode.