Abstract: Metal strip 9 cast directly from the melt onto a cylindrical casting drum 20 is made more uniform in thickness and in structure by making the temperature of the casting surface more uniform. This is accomplished by a novel arrangement of coolant channels 25 beneath the casting surface 10. The channels generally run circumferentially around the casting surface 10, parallel to and spaced from adjacent channels. At least one coolant inlet 21 and one coolant outlet 22 supply and withdraw coolant to each channel. Inlets (21a, 21b) and outlets (22a and 22b) of adjacent channels are staggered circumferentially from the inlets and outlets of the adjacent channels so that the cooler regions around inlets are staggered to balance the temperature across and around the surface.