Cooling facility and method

Method of cooling an aluminium alloy rolling ingot of dimensions 250 to 800 mm in thickness, from 1000 to 2000 mm in width and 2000 to 8000 mm in length after metallurgical homogenization heat treatment of said ingot at a temperature optionally between 450 to 600° C. depending on the alloys and prior to hot rolling wherein cooling, by a value of 30 to 150° C., is performed at a rate of from 150 to 500° C./h, with a thermal differential of less than 40° C. over the entire ingot cooled from a homogenization temperature thereof.