Established in the early 1940s and commissioned in 1947, the facility was developed to meet rising steel demand during and after the Second World War, while relieving capacity constraints at the Pretoria Works. Its location along the Vaal River was strategically selected for access to water, electricity, and land, as well as proximity to the industrialising Vaal Triangle.

Initially focused on plate steel for wartime and heavy industrial use, Vanderbijlpark Works evolved into a fully integrated operation encompassing ironmaking, steelmaking, rolling, and finishing. Major expansion phases between the 1960s and late 1970s introduced advanced technologies such as blast furnaces, basic oxygen steelmaking, electric arc furnaces, and continuous casting. The development of the North and South Works significantly expanded capacity and enabled the production of a broad range of flat steel products, including hot- and cold-rolled coil, galvanised steel, tinplate, and colour-coated products.

Investment during the 1980s and 1990s prioritised productivity, quality enhancement, and downstream value addition, supported by innovations such as direct reduction, coal briquetting, and increased automation. These developments strengthened the plant’s role as a key supplier to the automotive, construction, packaging, and manufacturing sectors.

Following the privatisation of Iscor in 1989 and subsequent integration into ArcelorMittal, Vanderbijlpark Works has continued to modernise amid challenging global steel market conditions. Today, it remains strategically important to South Africa’s industrial base and the economic development of the Vaal Triangle.