Method for maintenance of a sliding closure at the outlet of a metallurgical vessel

Method for maintenance of a sliding closure on an outlet of a metallurgical vessel, comprising:

• controlling, using a robot for automated maintenance, a drive on the sliding closure to selectively enable release of the sliding closure or release of the drive by disengaging fastening means, and enable unfolding of the sliding closure, wherein when the sliding closure is unfolded, a first refractory closure plate is, together with a first cassette, insertable into or removable from a housing of the sliding closure and a second refractory closure plate is, together with a second cassette, insertable into or removable from a slider unit of the sliding closure coupled to the housing;
• and
• providing a manual maintenance stage at the location at which the sliding closure is maintained and in which the first and second cassettes are fixed respectively in the housing and the slider unit and the first and second closure plates are insertable manually directly into the respective one of the first and second cassettes when present in the sliding closure to be centered and fastened therein, or the first and second closure plates are releasable from the respective one of the first and second cassettes.