Here, the fiery element yields to true masters of their craft. Steelmakers, with cool minds and warm hearts, oversee the complex process of steel production. Every day in Zaporizhstal’s Open-Hearth Shop, they smelt thousands of tonnes of metal, which is later transformed into rolled products.
Today, Zaporizhstal ranks among the top three leaders of Ukraine’s mining and steelmaking industry. This is largely thanks to the team at the Open-Hearth Shop.
Over nine decades of operation, nearly 280 million tonnes of steel have been produced in the open-hearth furnaces.
The shop’s employees understand that: every tonne is especially important now – during the war for Ukraine’s Independence.
“It is important to work here, in the rear, to support the production process. If work is not carried out in the rear, there will be no results at the front either. With our work, we must support the Ukrainian soldiers. Moreover, many of our colleagues are currently defending us on the front line, and we support each and every one of them and await their safe return," noted senior casting foreman Yevhen SYDELNYKOV.
The team of the open-hearth shop achieves its set goals thanks to the conscientious attitude of its employees towards their work, their professionalism, and their dedication to their chosen profession. Here, experience and youth are successfully combined. For example, Oleksandr Apalat has been working in the steelmaking shop for 15 years; he began as a steelmaker’s assistant and now holds the position of a steelmaker. The work is challenging, yet honourable.
"This is a hot shop; it cannot be easy here. Responsibility, coordination, and cohesion are essential – and equally important is communication between foremen, furnace blocks, and casting blocks. Everyone must act as one united team," said steelmaker Oleksandr APALAT.
Employees note that the team of Zaporizhstal’s open-hearth shop is like a large family, where mutual respect and support prevail. Despite being busy with work tasks, there is always time here to train newcomers, offer advice and share experience.
On the eve of the festive occasion, the company’s management congratulated the open-hearth shop workers and recognised the best-performing employees. Honourary certificates from Zaporizhstal were awarded to steelmaker Dmytro Selezniov, charge preparer Oleksandr Chernyshov, mixer operator Oleksandr Novakov, steel caster Mykola Medvedkov, and metallurgical crane operator Vadym Verteletskyi. Awards from the trade union committee were presented to electricians Oleksandr Martynov and Yevhen Druz, maintenance fitters Vyacheslav Taldin and Maksym Yeltsov, and work coordinator Nataliia Halushka.
"Our open-hearth shop is a resilient, close-knit team of professionals. Every steelmaker, assistant, caster, crane operator, mixer operator, and maintenance worker puts all their skill into the job. I would like to thank all my colleagues for their conscientious work and mutual support. I congratulate our team on this honourable anniversary and wish you resilience, inspiration, and peace!" said Oleksandr PONOMARENKO, Head of the Open-Hearth Shop.
