A method of casting a metal alloy ingot, comprising the following steps: providing an on one side open-ended mould comprising a plurality of sides and a bottom plate defining a mould cavity, said open-ended mould being pivotable around a horizontal rotational axis between a position so that the mould opening points upwards and a position so that the mould opening points side-wards or down-wards, and wherein the bottom plate of the mould is provided with coolant means ; positioning the open-ended mould such that the mould opening points side-wards or down-wards; providing a casting container with an upwardly positioned aperture; filling said casting container with molten metal for one casting operation; coupling the casting container to the open-ended mould so that the casting container is located below the mould while the mould opening points side-wards or down-wards; rotating the open-ended mould together with the casting container around the horizontal axis for 45° to 180°, preferably 90° to 180°, from a position whereby the mould opening points side-wards or down-wards to a position whereby the mould opening points upwards such that the molten metal is conveyed through a ceramic foam filter into the open-ended mould until a desired thickness; whereby the molten metal in the open-ended mould is cooled directionally through its thickness where the solidification front remains monoaxial, wherein at least one of the sides of the mould is provided with coolant means, wherein the bottom plate of the mould is made from a metal and provided with cooling channels for cooling medium passage, and wherein at least the conveying of the molten metal from the casting container to the open-ended mould is carried out under a protective gas atmosphere. providing an on one side open-ended mould comprising a plurality of sides and a bottom plate defining a mould cavity, said open-ended mould being pivotable around a horizontal rotational axis between a position so that the mould opening points upwards and a position so that the mould opening points side-wards or down-wards, and wherein the bottom plate of the mould is provided with coolant means ; positioning the open-ended mould such that the mould opening points side-wards or down-wards; providing a casting container with an upwardly positioned aperture; filling said casting container with molten metal for one casting operation; coupling the casting container to the open-ended mould so that the casting container is located below the mould while the mould opening points side-wards or down-wards; rotating the open-ended mould together with the casting container around the horizontal axis for 45° to 180°, preferably 90° to 180°, from a position whereby the mould opening points side-wards or down-wards to a position whereby the mould opening points upwards such that the molten metal is conveyed through a ceramic foam filter into the open-ended mould until a desired thickness; whereby the molten metal in the open-ended mould is cooled directionally through its thickness where the solidification front remains monoaxial, wherein at least one of the sides of the mould is provided with coolant means, wherein the bottom plate of the mould is made from a metal and provided with cooling channels for cooling medium passage, and wherein at least the conveying of the molten metal from the casting container to the open-ended mould is carried out under a protective gas atmosphere. <EOS>