Apparatus and method for use in casting of metals and/or metal alloys

Apparatus for use in casting of metal or metal alloy, said apparatus comprising:

• a heating assembly in which the metal or metal alloy is changed into a liquid state;
• a mould filling assembly in which the metal or metal alloy is moved into a mould to be cast;
• and
• a transfer assembly to transfer a liquid metal or metal alloy to flow between the heating assembly and the mould filling assembly, and the transfer assembly includes substantially along its length, one or more overhead heating means configured to maintain a temperature and liquid condition of the metal or metal alloy as it moves along the transfer assembly;
• whilst ensuring that the temperature prevents solidification, a means to introduce dry gas over a surface of the liquid metal or metal alloy counter current to flow of the liquid metal or metal alloy to passively degas the metal or metal alloy during passage of the said metal or metal alloy through the transfer assembly and a launder with a surface on which bi-film sediment separated from the liquid metal or metal alloy collects and from which the bi-film sediment is extracted from the transfer assembly, and wherein the transfer assembly includes dosage means to allow a dosage into the liquid metal or metal alloy of one or more heavy metal elements as it passes along the transfer assembly to promote sedimentation of the bi-film sediment from the liquid metal or metal alloy.