Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for continuous separation of dry matter from a fluid, comprising an enclosed environment capable of being under vacuum or under positive pressure, in which enclosed environment a number of rollers (1, 3, 4, 4?, 6, 6?, 20, 21, 22, 23) form a chamber which is divided into two or more compartments (12, 13, 24, 27, 25, 26) by filtration means (7, 8, 16, 29, 36, 37, 38, 40), wherein one or more filtrated chambers (9, 10) are placed on the pure side of the filter means. In order to allow for cleaning and/or maintenance of the filtrate chambers, additional filtrate chambers are provided, which are separated from the first filtrate chambers by a wall. One of the filtrate chambers at any time is placed under the filter, while the other filtrate chambers are situated outside the enclosure for maintenance/cleaning.

Abstract: A method or system for optimizing a process for producing a cast or molded product made by one or more production steps in respect of one or more predetermined parameters towards one or more optimal values, the process comprising the steps of: defining one or more technical requirements for the cast or molded product; providing a simulation of the casting or molding process; generating with each computer implemented process one or more solutions for the production step concerned that will lead to a cast product that will fulfill the technical requirements; and determining in a further computer implemented process which combination of the individual solutions results in an actual process or in a selected sub-set of production steps in which the predetermined parameter is closest to the optimal value.