An apparatus for continuously treating metal strip of aluminum, an aluminum alloy, a nonferrous metal, or a nonferrous-metal alloy, has at least one heat-treatment device through which the metal strip passes in a strip-travel plane in a travel direction without contact from an upstream inlet end to a downstream outlet end and having a heating zone at the upstream end and a cooling zone formed by a row extending in the direction of at least two cooling subzones. A strip-centering device between the cooling subzones adjusts a position of the metal strip in the strip-travel plane and transverse thereto.

A process and apparatus for controlling the strip run (4) of a metal strip (10) through a floating furnace (3). The strip run (4) is controlled contact-free with the aid of an electromagnetic device (1) that generates a Lorentz force acting transversely to the strip run.

A process and apparatus for controlling the strip run (4) of a metal strip (10) through a floating furnace (3). The strip run (4) is controlled contact-free with the aid of an electromagnetic device (1) that generates a Lorentz force acting transversely to the strip run.

A thermally treated metal sheet or article as well as processes and systems for making the thermally treated sheet or article is provided. The process comprises heating and/or cooling the metal sheet by non contact thermal conduction for sufficiently long to provide a desired microstructure and mechanical properties. The process results in thermally treated metal sheets.

A thermally treated metal sheet or article as well as processes and systems for making the thermally treated sheet or article is provided. The process comprises heating and/or cooling the metal sheet by non contact thermal conduction for sufficiently long to provide a desired microstructure and mechanical properties. The process results in thermally treated metal sheets.

The present invention relates to a thermal treatment furnace containing a thermal treatment chamber (1b) in which a thin metal sheet (20) is continuously conveyed horizontally while being floated by air (21), in which the thermal treatment chamber (1b) contains a plurality of air injection nozzles (6) and a plurality of mist spray nozzles (8) that are arranged along a pass line (PL) of the thin metal sheet (20) in the thermal treatment chamber (1b), on a lower side and an upper side of the pass line (PL) and so as to be orthogonal to the pass line (PL) in a side view.

The invention relates to a continuous flow cooling device (3) for cooling a metal strip (1), in particular a metal strip made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy, having at least one strip flotation cooler (4), which has several upper nozzles (5) distributed along the strip travel direction (B), and several lower nozzles (6) distributed along the strip travel direction (B), wherein the metal strip (1) can be transported in a floating manner between the upper nozzles (5) and the lower nozzles (6), and the upper side of the strip as well as the underside of the strip can be supplied with cooling air in the process, and having several water cooling units (7), by means of which the metal strip (1) can be supplied with cooling water. This device is characterized in that the water cooling units (7) are integrated in the strip flotation cooler (4).

The invention relates to a continuous flow cooling device (3) for cooling a metal strip (1), in particular a metal strip made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy, having at least one strip flotation cooler (4), which has several upper nozzles (5) distributed along the strip travel direction (B), and several lower nozzles (6) distributed along the strip travel direction (B), wherein the metal strip (1) can be transported in a floating manner between the upper nozzles (5) and the lower nozzles (6), and the upper side of the strip as well as the underside of the strip can be supplied with cooling air in the process, and having several water cooling units (7), by means of which the metal strip (1) can be supplied with cooling water. This device is characterized in that the water cooling units (7) are integrated in the strip flotation cooler (4).

A process and apparatus for controlling the strip run (4) of a metal strip (10) through a floating furnace (3). The strip run (4) is controlled contact-free with the aid of an electromagnetic device (1) that generates a Lorentz force acting transversely to the strip run.