Abstract: Process to cool and pelletize molten strands, which issue from nozzles and are first stretched in the region following the nozzles and then are cooled for the pelletizing operation. The strands are gently cooled up to a kneadable state while stretching and compacting along a tempering region, which is designed as a fluidized bed driven with gas, in particular air, and subsequently conveyed into an intensive cooling region, where the strands are chilled with cooling water and are substantially hardened, while feeding so as to cause stretching, for the subsequently pelletizing operation.