New vertical techniques for continuous casting

Casting technology originally began with vertical machines and took a big portion of ingot steel production achieving considerable cost savings. By improving the new continuous casting technique, the bow-type caster emerged and became more and more important due to further savings. But in terms of very special steel grades and highest quality demands, the ingot and the vertical continuous casting route are still the preferred solutions. Their outstanding features include the prevention of bending and straightening forces, optimal cleanness, and symmetry and homogeneity of the produced slabs or blooms. In addition to continuous improvements and upgrading with modern technological packages, this paper presents some examples.