Abstract: The invention relates to a continuous casting plant (1), in particular for the continuous casting of thin slabs, which has a vertically oriented strand guide (3) arranged below a mould (2), wherein means (4, 5) for driving the cast strand (6) and for bending the same into the horizontal (H) are arranged below the strand guide (3). In order to be able to extend the strand guide without any drawbacks, the invention provides for a means (4) for exclusively driving the cast strand (6) to be arranged below the bottom end of the strand guide (3) and for a means (5) for exclusively bending the cast strand (6) to be arranged below the driving means (4). The invention also relates to a method of operating a continuous casting plant.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for close-to-final-dimension casting of billets made of metal, particularly rectangular billets, wherein molten metal (2) is cast onto a circulating transport belt (3), followed by in-line rolling and cooling of said transport belt (3). The invention also relates to a device for carrying out the inventive method.