VERFAHREN UND VORRICHTUNG ZUR KONTINUIERLICHEN HERSTELLUNG VON GEGOSSENEN ODER UMGESCHMOLZENEN STRÄNGEN NACH EINEM ELEKTROSCHLACKE-VERFAHREN

The invention relates to a method and the apparatus required for carrying out the method for the continuous production of billets or ingots of metals, in particular steels and Ni- and Co-base alloys using the method of electroslag remelting and electroslag continuous casting in downwardly open water-cooled ingot molds, in which the billet issuing downwardly from the ingot mold is pressed against at least one guide element arranged rigidly in respect of its position with respect to the ingot mold axis, by at least one clamping element arranged opposite the guide element, in such a way that the regions of the billet surface which are in contact with the guide or clamping elements change within short intervals of time, wherein at least one of the elements is driven to withdraw the billet while the others move with the billet and a contact with a current source can be made by way of at least one of the elements.