Wednesday January 31, at 15:47 hours (3:57 p.m.) the first nozzle was fired up, which started the new Blast Furnace 2 campaign in the San Nicolas Plant, Ternium Southern Area

There, where cast iron production is already underway, on Wednesday January 31, the sound of the machinery and the heat of the liquid steel were replaced by comments full of optimism and the warmth of a team of workers that marked the completion of an intense 95-day project: the completion of Blast Furnace 2 relining.

In an event conducted at the foot of Maria Eva, as the furnace is called, the faces of more than 100 participants showed pride in the project that had come to its completion ahead of its planned schedule. “One of the greatest challenges of my career” was the phrase uttered by Juan Carlos Barca, Project Manager, describing this project.

The event began with the christening of the facilities, which was conducted by Father Heriberto Sartori. Then, Martín Berardi, General Manager of Ternium’s Southern Area, gave a brief speech where he highlighted the accomplishment of the teamwork, the professionalism and the skills of all the operating areas of the plants to adapt to the relining situation. “The impressive numbers of this project cannot describe its magnitude”, Berardi stated.

At 15:47 hours (3:47 p.m.) the relining workers with the most seniority, Daniel Cáceres and Oscar Bottaro, fired up, together with Martín Berardi, the first of the 27 nozzles. Then, Bruno Marchettini, Marcelo Chara and Luis Andreozzi lit the second nozzle. And so, some of the main players of this project moved on until all the nozzles were lit, marking the official start of the new campaign of Blast Furnace #2, which is estimated to extend for a minimum of 15 years.

Marcelo Chara, Industrial Director of the Southern Area, commented that at the time of lighting the nozzle he thought that this is a “transcending moment for both the steel industry and Argentina’s history”.

After it was fired up, the guests were entertained in the dining room, where they enjoyed an emotion-filled video that showed major images of the relining.

The project involved an investment of nearly 100 million dollars and its major changes were the installation of a new cooling system that involved 388 staves (nodular- casting copper cooling boxes) and the redesign of the furnace hearth. The new slag channels, revamped loading system, expansion of the pump room, new drainage gutters and new nozzles are other examples of what was accomplished.

The changes will guarantee a longer service life for the furnace operating at a very high productivity level. “We have a furnace that has practically all the technical advancements available today worldwide” said Alejandro Hermida, Reduction Manager. It is expected that the furnace will produce 2.5 million tons per year.

“This moment translated into teamwork, people with a good sense of humor, a brilliant outcome and great respect for everything that will be forthcoming”, Gerardo Rodríguez, Engineering and Environmental Director of the Southern Area, excitedly commented, moments prior to firing up the furnace.