If we want to control and predict the temperature of steel in the tundish we must know the thermal stratification in the ladle before and during casting, as well as the interaction with the steel flow through the nozzle. A group project, with participation of SSAB (Luleå and Oxelo̊sund), Luleå University and MEFOS, has been carried out to study these phenomenon. The stratification in the ladle was measured by thermo-couples penetrating into the melt at different levels. Such measurements were carried out before and during casting. To get information about the drainage flow, studies were made with tracer elements added at different points in the ladle. The response, defined as the tracer concentration in the outlet stream from the ladle, was measured by frequent sampling. Model work by numerical simulation and with tanks in series is discussed briefly.