Steel making in Jesenice started long before 1992. On this teritory. In this region, iron making was developed already in 14th century. In 19th century, small ironworks joined and established the Kranjska industrijska družba – KID (Carniolan Industrial Company).
In 1872, Lambert von Pantz, the first director of KID, succeeded in producing ferromanganese in blast furnace. His invention represented a revolutionary innovation for metallurgic state-of-the-art of that time and it brought Pantz, as well as the Javornik ironworks, worldwide fame.
After 1960 Steelworks Jesenice developed quickly. With investments in new production facilities it has joined the leading steel producers on the world.
In 1872, Lambert von Pantz, the first director of KID, succeeded in producing ferromanganese in blast furnace. His invention represented a revolutionary innovation for metallurgic state-of-the-art of that time and it brought Pantz, as well as the Javornik ironworks, worldwide fame.
After 1960 Steelworks Jesenice developed quickly. With investments in new production facilities it has joined the leading steel producers on the world.
Main milestones:
1995
Acroni received the first Quality Certificate for Production of Steel and Steel Products.
Construction of new crucible furnace was completed.
1996
Modernisation of hot-rolling mill was started with an exchange of the process control systems for the end-pusher furnace, the blooming mill and the Steckel-mill. Major parts of mechanical equipment of Steckel-mill were also replaced.
1997
The investments in new leaching baths for stainless sheets (the first one in 1996, the second one in 1997) enabled renewed increase of not only the production of heavy plates but also of the whole company.
1999
Our sales volume exceeded the amount of 200.000 tons for the first time.
2001
We introduced the ISO 14001 environmental standard. We started the investment in reconstruction of dedusting equipment in the steel production plant.
Acroni receives ISO 9001:2000 certificate.
2002
Acroni Deutschland and Acroni Italy were established.
By the end of the year the new furnace transformer was started and the capacity of the dedusting equipment in the steel production plant was increased with an additional new ventilator.
In December we celebrated the 10th anniversary of the company Acroni and on that occasion we were granted the ISO 14001 certificate for environmental practice.
2003
There were 33 investments going on, two of them will have a crucial impact on the increase in the production output and in the quality of our products: the line for final annealing of finished electrical steel sheets (CRNO) and the new vacuum oxidising & degassing (VOD) device. A contract for the third strategic investment in modernisation of the hot-rolling mill was signed.
2004
We started the ecological project Reduced Consumption of Cooling Water. The project Reconstruction of Anti-Noise Chamber was carried out. Modernisation of the vacuum plant was concluded.
2005
We completed an investment in the new Main motors for Blooming Mill.
We have received recognition as the most energy efficient company for our efforts in the area of reducing energy consumption.
We have received Gold recognition of “GZS” for VOD modernization.
2006
Key investments were:
Dust abatement equipment in steelworks,
110 kV Transformer,
System upgrade to Level 2 for second level of management for rolling thick plates and Ecological investments:
2007
We invested 22.5 million € for investments which have environmental impact, the effect of an increase in production capacity and elimination of production bottlenecks, and for investments called Maintenance investments. In particular, we are very proud with in 2007 completed investments:
2008
We successfully completed the following major investments:
1. Steel mill - 2nd scrap basket with weighting unit - allows more efficient loading furnace; also we improve or optimize work with the cranes, which brings the effect on reducing the T / T time
2. Hot-rolling mills - beginning with the operation of modern waste water treatment plant; where the cooling water from the hot rolling mill is in the new closed circuit capture, technology and chemical managed and it is fully returned back to the process - resulting in a drastic reduction in consumption of cooling water
1995
Acroni received the first Quality Certificate for Production of Steel and Steel Products.
Construction of new crucible furnace was completed.
1996
Modernisation of hot-rolling mill was started with an exchange of the process control systems for the end-pusher furnace, the blooming mill and the Steckel-mill. Major parts of mechanical equipment of Steckel-mill were also replaced.
1997
The investments in new leaching baths for stainless sheets (the first one in 1996, the second one in 1997) enabled renewed increase of not only the production of heavy plates but also of the whole company.
1999
Our sales volume exceeded the amount of 200.000 tons for the first time.
2001
We introduced the ISO 14001 environmental standard. We started the investment in reconstruction of dedusting equipment in the steel production plant.
Acroni receives ISO 9001:2000 certificate.
2002
Acroni Deutschland and Acroni Italy were established.
By the end of the year the new furnace transformer was started and the capacity of the dedusting equipment in the steel production plant was increased with an additional new ventilator.
In December we celebrated the 10th anniversary of the company Acroni and on that occasion we were granted the ISO 14001 certificate for environmental practice.
2003
There were 33 investments going on, two of them will have a crucial impact on the increase in the production output and in the quality of our products: the line for final annealing of finished electrical steel sheets (CRNO) and the new vacuum oxidising & degassing (VOD) device. A contract for the third strategic investment in modernisation of the hot-rolling mill was signed.
2004
We started the ecological project Reduced Consumption of Cooling Water. The project Reconstruction of Anti-Noise Chamber was carried out. Modernisation of the vacuum plant was concluded.
2005
We completed an investment in the new Main motors for Blooming Mill.
We have received recognition as the most energy efficient company for our efforts in the area of reducing energy consumption.
We have received Gold recognition of “GZS” for VOD modernization.
2006
Key investments were:
Dust abatement equipment in steelworks,
110 kV Transformer,
System upgrade to Level 2 for second level of management for rolling thick plates and Ecological investments:
- Reconstruction the storage of lubricants and hazardous substances,
- Establishing a rising line for rising plates after pickling treatment.
2007
We invested 22.5 million € for investments which have environmental impact, the effect of an increase in production capacity and elimination of production bottlenecks, and for investments called Maintenance investments. In particular, we are very proud with in 2007 completed investments:
- Waste water treatment plant – test period start
- Pusher furnace reconstruction with unloading device
- Replacement of obsolete roller furnaces for heat treatment of thick plates with a modern new roller heart furnace for the treatment of high-, wear-resistant plates;
- New cover stock for scrap and raw material.
2008
We successfully completed the following major investments:
1. Steel mill - 2nd scrap basket with weighting unit - allows more efficient loading furnace; also we improve or optimize work with the cranes, which brings the effect on reducing the T / T time
2. Hot-rolling mills - beginning with the operation of modern waste water treatment plant; where the cooling water from the hot rolling mill is in the new closed circuit capture, technology and chemical managed and it is fully returned back to the process - resulting in a drastic reduction in consumption of cooling water
3. Cold rolling mill - Temper Mill modernization - ecological investment, where we replace the roller cleaning with law prohibited white spirit with the system of dry cleaning and also made some minor updates of equipment in terms of improving the quality of the tempered material.
4. Heavy plate department:
2009
We successfully concluded three strategic projects:4. Heavy plate department:
- Launch of two plasma cutters, which allow a precise cut off the edges and provide adequate capacity for thicker quarto plates
- Electricity upgrades in Heavy plate dept., which provides adequate strength and transfer electrics power for new investment, which will be implemented in 2009.
2009
- modernization of Continues Slab Casting Machine in Still mill;
- new transport line in the Rolling mill of Acroni;
- side trimming and cut to length line for plates.
These projects represented 89 percent of entire investment fund – 44,84 million EUR. Investments allow us dramatic improvement in quality, quantity and we can also produce new materials.
Source: Photoarchives Jesenice Museum
Source: Photoarchives Jesenice Museum