No matter what challenges life brought to this Zaporizhzhia industry worker, he always returned to his beloved work.
Recently, on the occasion of Metallurgist and Miner's Day, a ceremony took place to award Metinvest employees with the company's highest honour, the Gold Star of Metinvest. The individual recognition is given to workers who not only do their job well, but also show initiative, leadership, and a high level of involvement in developing both their enterprises and the company as a whole. This year, 20 employees of Metinvest received the company's highest award.
Among the awardees is Andrii Gryn, an employee at Zaporizhcoke, from Zaporizhzhia. The award was personally presented to the coke chemist by Yuriy Ryzhenkov, CEO of the company.
The nominee was introduced to participants at the event by Oleksandr BEKHTER, General Director of Zaporizhcoke:
"Andrii is involved in all improvements that are related to coke production. Due to the implementation of one of such programmes with his participation, we managed to increase the gross coke output from a single furnace by over 150 kilograms, which is more then the pre-war level. Andrii Gryn knows how to build a team, even when experiencing a staff shortage, and he fulfils all tasks at a very high level," said Oleksandr BEKHTER.
The work found me itself
Андрій ГРИНЬ
Andrii Gryn joined the Zaporizhcoke team in 2003 as a coke battery gas operator. A year later, due to his relocation to Mariupol, he changed companies to Azovstal, but did not change his profession, because it was to his liking. At Azovstal, Andrii developed as a specialist, gained experience, and found reliable colleagues, with whom he would work again, but back in Zaporizhzhia.
"I worked at Azovstal for almost 10 years. They had the same type of coke plant as in Zaporizhzhia. Then, I left the coke industry for almost 5 years, but I really wanted to return. I was even dreaming about the work sometimes. This profession really suits me. When you come on shift, you receive your shift task and a schedule for the furnaces. It may seem like the same thing, but the approaches are different depending on the situation and production plans. Overall, each shift is unique. It is not work in the same place every time; it is continuous production, where you are interested to dive in and grow as a professional by overcoming new challenges," said Andrii GRYN.
Andrii returned to work at Zaporizhcoke in 2018 as a production section foreman at the coke battery No. 5-6, and over time he began to substitute for the senior foreman. For over three years now, he has been holding the position of deputy head of the coke shop for operations.
High standards
With an experienced specialist come higher requirements. That is why Andrii was entrusted with complicated projects and tasks. Under his leadership, a programme for increasing the furnace charge was implemented, leading to an increase in the gross coke output from a furnace by 0.16 tonnes.
Andrii Gryn prepared and introduced measures for temperature stabilisation of the space under the furnace's roof, contributing to improving the quality of the produced tar and ensuring its export. In cooperation with his colleagues, they implemented measures that eliminated the problem of coke drilling during output at coke battery No. 2.
"Coke battery No. 2 is special, bigger in terms of furnace capacity, so the approach to it was correspondingly different. Together with the team we developed plans, tested different solutions, and as a result we achieved good results. The battery has high productivity – up to 800 tonnes of coke per day, and works stably," said Andrii Gryn.
As a reminder, Zaporizhcoke has recently finished another stage of the major overhaul programme for coke battery No. 2, ensuring stable production and reducing environmental impact.
The full-scale war has added new challenges to Andrii's professional journey, but he approached them with his signature restraint and calmness. His confidence was bolstered by his personal experience and the strong team, which was always alongside.
In March 2022, Andrii together with his colleagues restored the coke battery to life after an almost month-long shutdown, and later they handled equipment issues after a prolonged blackout. Due to his swift decision-making and the coordinated actions of the entire team, it was possible to avoid damage and preserve the stable operation of furnaces under extremely difficult conditions.
Team power
Andrii always sees his team's contribution in his achievements, and is thankful for their coordinated work and commitment. For many of his colleagues, he is a mentor, and serves as an example for them.
According to them, Andrii Gryn is a good manager, experienced specialist, and caring person.
"A true professional is distinguished not so much by his or her knowledge, but primarily by his or her attitude towards work. I can say about Andrii that he is passionate about this work, and puts in extra effort to make everything work properly. And then to make it work even better! He is a technically competent, and serves as a good example for young workers. He knows how to work with a team and as part of a team. Andrii is a reliable specialist, an outstanding expert, whose contribution to our joint result deserves recognition," said Maksym KHILAI, Head of the Coke Shop.
Receiving the Gold Star of Metinvest from Yuriy Ryzhenkov, CEO of Metinvest Group, personally is an important event in Andrii Gryn's life.
"We live in such a difficult time, that it seems we have forgotten how important it is to seize moments of happiness and enjoy life and our victories – here and now. Receiving this award and congratulations from the Company's CEO and my colleagues – these are incredible feelings of joy. It charges my inner battery with such powerful energy and positivity that I want to do even more and achieve even greater things. I am sincerely grateful for this high recognition!" said Andrii Gryn, Deputy Head of the Coke Shop for Operations at Zaporizhcoke.
In addition to the award, Andrii Gryn received a cash bonus, part of which he will direct to support the military units where his colleagues serve.
