PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, Feb 16: Tata Steel today completed 110 years when the first production rolled out from the company.
The steel production in Tata Steel began when the first steel ingot was rolled out on February 16, 1912.
The ingot moulds were manufactured at the ingot mould foundry and later the solidified ingots were rolled into slabs, bars, blooms and billets.
The Tata Steel plant was set up with an original capacity of 160,000 tonnes of pig iron; 100,000 tonnes of ingot steel; 70,000 tonnes of rails, beams and shapes; and 20,000 tonnes of bars, hoops and rods.
The range of facilities were 180 non-recovery coke ovens batteries; 30 by-product ovens with a sulphuric acid plant; two blast furnaces (each with per day capacity of 350 tonnes); one 300 tonnes hot metal mixer; four open-hearth furnaces with a capacity of 50 tonnes each; one steam engine driven 40 inches reversing blooming mill; one 28-inch reversing combination rail and structural mill with reheating furnaces; and one 16-inch and two 10-inch rolling mills.
The plant also had a powerhouse, auxiliary facilities, and a well-equipped laboratory. The construction cost was around Rs. 23 million.
“It’s a memorable day for the company which has emerged as a leading steel manufacturer in the country,” said an official.
