There are many inventions described and illustrated herein. The process utilizes a single component nickel containing catalyst of the formula EnNi2 wherein n is 1 or 2 and E represents a neutral electron donor ligand. In view of the effect of a contracted flow, the position on which molten metal drops is estimated by the estimating device for estimating the pouring rate and the estimating device for estimating the position on which molten metal will drop.