The invention relates to a device for the horizontal continuous strip casting of steel, especially steel with high manganese content, for producing a pre-strip with a thickness ≦15 mm. The device includes a tundish containing the melt, a primary cooling zone having two deflection pulleys and a revolving cooled conveyor belt, and a secondary cooling zone which follows the primary cooling zone and has a housed roller table. A guide element having at least one roller is hereby arranged at the end of the primary cooling zone and before the start of the secondary cooling zone.