Abstract: An apparatus (100) and method for the production of elongated metal products such as bars, rods or the like: A rolling mill (10) with at least one rolling stand (5); a casting station (20) with at least a first casting line (2a) and at least a second casting line (2b), each line (2a, 2b) being operable to produce respective elongated intermediate products (b2a, b2b), such as billets; wherein at least the first casting line (2a) is directly aligned with the rolling mill (10), the first casting line (2a) being configured to feed the rolling mill (10) with a fully continuous casting strand or with cast elongated intermediate products; and the second casting line (2b) is not aligned with the rolling mill (10).

Abstract: An apparatus (100) and method for the production of elongated metal products such as bars, rods or the like: A rolling mill (10) with at least one rolling stand (5); a casting station (20) with at least a first casting line (2a) and at least a second casting line (2b), each line (2a, 2b) being operable to produce respective elongated intermediate products (b2a, b2b), such as billets; wherein at least the first casting line (2a) is directly aligned with the rolling mill (10), the first casting line (2a) being configured to feed the rolling mill (10) with a fully continuous casting strand or with cast elongated intermediate products; and the second casting line (2b) is not aligned with the rolling mill (10).

Abstract: A method for operating a continuous casting machine (1) at the start of casting, at the end of casting and when producing a transitional piece (21) for improving the quality of the ends of the strand (16, 18), and protecting the machine from damage. At the start of casting, perform the following additional method steps: recording a position of the beginning of the strand (16) in the strand guide (4); after the beginning of the strand (16) and after an upper end (17a) of the beginning region of the strand (17), has passed a pair of adjustable strand guiding rollers (5) adjusting the roller pair to touch the strand (2); cooling the beginning region of the strand (17) by the cooling nozzle (10) delivering an amount of coolant Q less than a nominal amount of coolant Qnom to the beginning region of the strand (17); and cooling the main part of the strand (20) by the cooling nozzle (10) delivering an amount of coolant Q that is substantially equal to Qnom to the main part of the strand (20).

Abstract: A method for operating a continuous casting machine (1) at the start of casting, at the end of casting and when producing a transitional piece (21) for improving the quality of the ends of the strand (16, 18), and protecting the machine from damage. At the start of casting, perform the following additional method steps: recording a position of the beginning of the strand (16) in the strand guide (4); after the beginning of the strand (16) and after an upper end (17a) of the beginning region of the strand (17), has passed a pair of adjustable strand guiding rollers (5) adjusting the roller pair to touch the strand (2); cooling the beginning region of the strand (17) by the cooling nozzle (10) delivering an amount of coolant Q less than a nominal amount of coolant Qnom to the beginning region of the strand (17); and cooling the main part of the strand (20) by the cooling nozzle (10) delivering an amount of coolant Q that is substantially equal to Qnom to the main part of the strand (20).