Abstract: The process for producing a metal billet or slab which is substantially homogeneous, fine grained and free of freezing or chemical segregation, which comprises fusing the metal, e.g. titanium or a titanium alloy, by an intense heat source, e.g. a plasma torch, to provide a small molten pool of metal within a charge of the metal, which can be scrap metal such as scrap titanium or a mixture of titanium alloy scrap, master alloy and titanium sponge. The charge of metal, preferably contained in a mold car, is traversed in a substantially horizontal plane with respect to the heat source, thereby causing the small molten pool of metal to also traverse within the metal charge, and continually melting fresh charge metal adjacent to its leading edge and causing rapid freezing of the metal adjacent to the trailing edge of the small molten pool of metal as the melted charge moves away from the heat source.