Method and device for manufacturing a metal strip by means of continuous casting and rolling

A method of manufacturing a metal strip from a cast slab or preliminary strip, comprising the steps of providing a device including a casting machine (2), at least one rolling train (4, 5), and a shuttle system (7) arranged in a main transport line (6) connecting the casting machine (2) with the at least one rolling train (4, 5), between the casting machine (2) and the at least one rolling train (4, 5) and formed of at least two shuttles (7′, 7″) capable of being displaced transverse to a transport direction (F) of a strip-forming thin slab (3) or preliminary strip (3) along the main transport line (6);

• casting the slab (3) in the casting machine (2) or producing a preliminary strip (3′);
• transporting the cast slab (3) or the preliminary strip (3′) along the main transport line (6) from the casting machine (2) to the at least one rolling mill train (4, 5), and subsequently rolling the cast slab (3) or preliminary strip (3′) using primary heat of a casting process in a first operating mode for continuously manufacturing the metal strip;
• and in a second operating mode, for batch manufacturing the metal strip, removing the cast slab (3) or preliminary strip (3′) from the main transport line (6) by displacing one or both of the shuttles (7′, 7″), in which the cast slab (3) or preliminary strip (3′) is stored, transverse to the main transport line (6), whereby the at least one rolling mill train (4, 5) becomes decoupled from the casting machine (3);
• heating the removed cast slab (3) or preliminary strip (3′) to a desired temperature or maintaining the removed cast slab (3) or preliminary strip (3′) at the desired temperature prior to transporting the removed cast slab or preliminary strip back into the main transport line (6) by the one or both of the shuttles (7′, 7″).