Method and device for hot-dip coating a metal strand

The invention relates to a method for hot-dip coating a metal strand ( 1 ), especially a steel strip, according to which the metal strand ( 1 ) is vertically guided through a container ( 3 ) accommodating the molten coating metal ( 2 ) and through a guide channel ( 4 ) disposed upstream thereof. An electromagnetic field is generated in the area of the guide channel ( 4 ) by means of at least two inductors ( 5 ) disposed at both sides of the metal strand ( 1 ) to retain the coating material ( 2 ) in the container ( 3 ). In order to stabilize the metal strand ( 1 ) in a center position in the guide channel ( 4 ), an electromagnetic field, superimposing the electromagnetic field of the inductors ( 5 ), is generated by means of at least two additional coils ( 6 ) disposed at both sides of the metal strand ( 1 ). In order to improve efficiency of the control of the metal strand in the guide channel, the center position of the metal strand ( 1 ) in the guide channel ( 4 ) is stabilized in a closed control loop by carrying out the following steps: a) detecting the position (s, s', s'') of the metal strand ( 1 ) in the guide channel ( 4 ); b) measuring the induced current (IInd) in the inductors ( 5 ); c) measuring the induced current (ICorr) in the additional coils ( 6 ); d) influencing the induced current (ICorr) in the additional coils ( 6 ) depending on the parameters (s, IInd,ICorr) measured in steps a) to c), in order to maintain the metal strand ( 1 ) in a center position in the guide channel ( 4 ). The invention further relates to a device for hot-dip coating a metal strand.