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In metallurgy, a ladle is a heavy steel container, lined with refractory material, used to hold and transport liquid steel. It's where secondary metallurgical processes occur, such as heating, cooling, and stirring. Ladles receive molten steel from furnaces and are moved by cranes or specialized cars. They can be equipped with permeable bottoms for gas stirring or nonmagnetic shells for electromagnetic stirring. Ladle lids help retain heat. The ladle's shell is often cone-shaped for easier removal of solidified material, and its refractory lining is crucial for withstanding high temperatures and preventing wear. Ladles can pour steel over the lip or through a bottom nozzle controlled by a stopper rod or a slide-gate system.

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