Billets, roll blocks and continuous casting pigs are produced in the vertical or horizontal continuous casting process. In general they have a low level of alloying elements; they are sensitive to non-metallic impurities and subversive elements and tend to hot tears from time to time. For this purpose scrap metal is often used which has non-metallic adhesions. As a consequence of this a treatment of the dross after the melting is imperative. As a result oxides are bound and the proportion of metal in the dross is reduced.

Cleaning of non-metallic impurities and inclusions.

Treatment of the dross to bind oxides to reduce the proportion of metal in the dross and avoid the formation of build-ups on furnace walls.

Grain refining to improve the feeding behaviour, prevent the formation of pores and shrinkage cavities and increase the mechanical values and the anodising behaviour.

Release agents are also increasingly used in the continuous casting process as they guarantee a secure treatment of gravity ingot moulds and gate stones without producing much smoke.