Method for multiple casting of metal strands

A method for the continuous casting of metal strands, including rolling ingots made of aluminium or an aluminium alloy, in which

• the liquid metal is simultaneously cast via a plurality of moulds into a plurality of metal strands,
• the moulds each have a narrow side and a broad side, wherein all moulds have a uniform length of the narrow side, so that the metal strands have equal thicknesses after casting,
• at least one of the moulds used has a broad side, whose length differs from the length of the broad side of the other simultaneously used moulds,
• for each mould used, a sprue stone is provided, which is arranged on a casting table and is provided for receiving the starter strands,
• wherein the casting of the metal strands comprises a mould filling phase with the casting table fixed, in which a plurality of starter strands is cast into the associated sprue stones, and
• the casting comprises a continuous casting phase in which the casting table is lowered and a plurality of metal strands is cast,
• wherein the depth of the sprue stone for each mould is at least 50 mm, the mould filling phase is started simultaneously for all moulds with an identical filling speed, the casting process for the moulds that have reached the necessary metal level for starting the continuous casting phase is stopped and the continuous casting phase is started as soon as all moulds have reached the metal level necessary for the continuous casting phase.