To provide a continuous casting method according to which a slab difficult for surface cracking to appear can be manufactured, in a first water cooling step, the slab is cooled so that only a surface temperature of corner parts is below Ar.sub.3 point, in a first recuperation step, the slab is recuperated so that the surface temperature of all the slab including the corner parts is no less than the Ar.sub.3 point, in a second water cooing step, the slab is cooled so that the surface temperature of all the slab including the corner parts is below the Ar.sub.3 point, and in a second recuperation step, the slab is recuperated so that the surface temperature of only a portion of the slab other than the corner parts is no less than the Ar.sub.3 point.

The present application discloses a convex lens-shaped narrow face copper plate for continuous casting molds and its utilization method. The narrow face copper plate includes a first hot face and a second hot face. A first connecting line being provided at a joint of the first hot face and the second hot face, and two such first connecting lines being provided. A cross section of the first hot face is a convex arc, and the first hot face extends from an top of the narrow face copper plate to a bottom of the narrow face copper plate, and a height of the first hot face protruding relative to a plane where the two first connecting lines are located gradually decreases from the top of the narrow face copper plate to the bottom of the narrow face copper plate.

The present application discloses a convex lens-shaped narrow face copper plate for continuous casting molds and its utilization method. The narrow face copper plate includes a first hot face and a second hot face. A first connecting line being provided at a joint of the first hot face and the second hot face, and two such first connecting lines being provided. A cross section of the first hot face is a convex arc, and the first hot face extends from an top of the narrow face copper plate to a bottom of the narrow face copper plate, and a height of the first hot face protruding relative to a plane where the two first connecting lines are located gradually decreases from the top of the narrow face copper plate to the bottom of the narrow face copper plate.

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). A bidirectional transfer device (30) for transferring elongated intermediate products (b2b) of the second casting line (2b) alternatively in a first direction from the second casting line (2b) to the first casting line (2a) to align the elongated intermediate product (b2b) with the rolling mill (10) or in a second direction from the at least second casting line (2b) to a cooling bed (40).

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). A bidirectional transfer device (30) for transferring elongated intermediate products (b2b) of the second casting line (2b) alternatively in a first direction from the second casting line (2b) to the first casting line (2a) to align the elongated intermediate product (b2b) with the rolling mill (10) or in a second direction from the at least second casting line (2b) to a cooling bed (40).