Rotherham
Libertysteel Rotherham
LIBERTY Speciality Steels - Rotherham Steel & Bar
Includes primary and secondary EAF steelmaking, vacuum degassing, ingot casting, continuous casting, bar and coil rolling, and bar processing & inspection.
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Industrialist plans to idle some smaller plants as higher energy costs squeeze profits
*https://www.ft.com/content/e3fdef7e-4ee1-48b3-afb4-e92a22216322
Image photography
By Viktor Macha in 2005.
Plant facts and figures
The plant have an annual capacity of 900000 tons.
The following processes are conducted in the plant:
- Rolling mill
This plant produces the following type of products:
- Bars
- Coils
- Ingots
Full description
The beginnings of the steel production in Stocksbridge follows up the long tradition of the textile industry which was established here in 1794.
In 1860 Samuel Fox decided to expand his existing cotton mill with first Huntsman-type crucible furnace melt shop. In the following years the works were extended by two Bessemer converters and a billet and rail rolling mill. The first open-heath furnace was put into operation in 1899.
In 1918 Samuel Fox & Company Ltd. amalgamated with five other companies to form the famous United Steel Company Ltd.
A modern electric steel plant was built in 1930 and the billet mill was completely revamped in 1955.
The works were nationalized in 1967 and became part of British Steel, but de-nationalised again in 1986 when United Engineering Steels Ltd. was founded.
After the merger with the Dutch metallurgical company Koninklijke Hoogovens, a new company was established in 1999 – Corus. Four years later the Stocksbridge works are closed and the production is moved to Rotherham.
However, the billet mill was reopened shortly after under the flag of Tata Steel Europe who finally sold it to Liberty House in 2017.