A metal casting installation is provided that includes a robot configured for carrying out the operations of handing a new ladle shroud to a manipulator of the ladle located at the loading station, and coupling a driving device to the ladle slide gate each manipulator is fixed relative to the corresponding first or second ladle such as to move together with the corresponding first or second ladle between the loading station and the casting station.

A metal casting installation is provided that includes a robot configured for carrying out the operations of handing a new ladle shroud to a manipulator of the ladle located at the loading station, and coupling a driving device to the ladle slide gate each manipulator is fixed relative to the corresponding first or second ladle such as to move together with the corresponding first or second ladle between the loading station and the casting station.

A nozzle sand and method of use and operation, utilizes as a constituent component a granulated material that will break down to lose structural integrity and strength when subjected to temperatures and weight of molten ferrous materials, to compact to form at least a partial barrier to penetration of the molten ferrous material while remaining at least substantially in a granulated state. When the nozzle is opened, the loose nozzle sand will freely flow from the nozzle and the barrier will break under the weight of the ferrous material, such that the ferrous material will flow from the vessel through the nozzle. As a representative formulation, the nozzle sand can include between about 50 percent and about 60 percent by weight raw dolomitic lime; between about 20 percent and about 30 percent by weight forsterite; and between about 15 percent and about 20 percent by weight tabular alumina.