Saldanha plant visit – the pride is clear to see!

We recently had the chance to tour the Saldanha steel plant. Situated 5 kilometres from the port in an untamed landscape, we also saw ostriches, springbok and (maybe) buffalo. This was thanks to our South African colleague, Hennie. Isn’t it ironic that steel is seen as cold but the industry is full of warm people?

As we drove onto the Saldanha plant property, the first thing that greeted us was a big sign with the Health and Safety Day 2007 campaign on it: ‘A step forward in Leading by Example’. Next along the road was a series of colourful signs representing the legacy values of the site around the motto: “SO (we) CARE”.

Over our head at the front door was an enormous bell they ring when the plant achieves certain records. “On a clear day you can see Table Mountain,” said our host, Hennie Vermeulen, Manager Investor Relations, Corporate Affairs, ArcelorMittal South Africa as we entered the friendly reception area that has an aerial view of the plant as well as some prehistoric finds from the site.

Chris Venter, Financial Manager, gave us a presentation of the plant and its process. As operations only started in January 1999 here on the west coast of South Africa, Saldanha is one of ArcelorMittal’s youngest and most modern, steel making facilities. One point of note is that this plant produces 0 effluents!

Our tour guide for the plant interior was Leigh Hartnick, Production Manager, Temper Mill. The plant produces ultra-thin hot rolled coil based on the Corex technology. This process makes it much more environmentally acceptable. Along with a group of local school children who were also touring the plant, we were lucky to see some of it in action.

Photo: Mark Harmse, Supervisor Control Room with Leigh Hartnick