Llanwern steelworks
Encyclopedia
Llanwern Steelworks is located in Llanwern
, east of the City of Newport
, South Wales
.
Built by Richard Thomas & Baldwin Ltd, the works was originally referred to locally as "The RTB", before being called Spencer Works and later Llanwern. The steelworks is alongside the South Wales Main Line
west of Newport, offering excellent rail transport for the works.
It was the first oxygen-blown
integrated steelworks
in Britain when it opened in 1962.
The hot strip mill pioneered the first successful use of a computer for complete mill control.
Steel making
at the site ceased in 2001 with the loss of 1300 jobs, and the 'heavy end' of the works was demolished in 2004.
In January 2009, Corus announced that it was mothballing the hot strip mill, with the loss of over 500 jobs.. In August 2009 Corus announced that the hot strip mill would resume operations.
Subsequent problems caused by the eurozone crisis forced the company to once again mothball the Hot Strip Mill commencing 24th November 2011 with plans to re-open during February 2012.
While the site no longer manufactures steel, Tata
remaining operations at Llanwern include a hot strip mill, a cold strip mill and a hot dip galvanising line. The works rolls 1.5 million tonnes of steel coil per annum for automotive, construction and general engineering applications.
, led by St. Modwen Properties
PLC, is currently transforming the former steel-producing part of the Llanwern steelworks site. Started in 2004, the masterplan envisages 1.5m sq ft of employment-generating accommodation hosting 6,000 jobs, 4,000 new dwellings, community facilities and open space including 3 new lakes. Full completion is anticipated by 2026-8.
Llanwern
Llanwern is an electoral ward and community in the urban-rural fringe of the City of Newport, South Wales. Llanwern ward is bounded by the M4 and Langstone to the north, Ringland, Liswerry and the River Usk to the west, the River Severn to the south and the city boundary to the east...
, east of the City of Newport
Newport
Newport is a city and unitary authority area in Wales. Standing on the banks of the River Usk, it is located about east of Cardiff and is the largest urban area within the historic county boundaries of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent...
, South Wales
South Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
.
Built by Richard Thomas & Baldwin Ltd, the works was originally referred to locally as "The RTB", before being called Spencer Works and later Llanwern. The steelworks is alongside the South Wales Main Line
South Wales Main Line
The South Wales Main Line , originally known as the London, Bristol and South Wales Direct Railway or simply as the Bristol and South Wales Direct Railway, is a branch of the Great Western Main Line in Great Britain...
west of Newport, offering excellent rail transport for the works.
It was the first oxygen-blown
Basic oxygen steelmaking
Basic oxygen steelmaking , also known as Linz-Donawitz-Verfahren steelmaking or the oxygen converter process is a method of primary steelmaking in which carbon-rich molten pig iron is made into steel. Blowing oxygen through molten pig iron lowers the carbon content of the alloy and changes it into...
integrated steelworks
Steel mill
A steel mill or steelworks is an industrial plant for the manufacture of steel.Steel is an alloy of iron and carbon. It is produced in a two-stage process. First, iron ore is reduced or smelted with coke and limestone in a blast furnace, producing molten iron which is either cast into pig iron or...
in Britain when it opened in 1962.
The hot strip mill pioneered the first successful use of a computer for complete mill control.
Steel making
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
at the site ceased in 2001 with the loss of 1300 jobs, and the 'heavy end' of the works was demolished in 2004.
In January 2009, Corus announced that it was mothballing the hot strip mill, with the loss of over 500 jobs.. In August 2009 Corus announced that the hot strip mill would resume operations.
Subsequent problems caused by the eurozone crisis forced the company to once again mothball the Hot Strip Mill commencing 24th November 2011 with plans to re-open during February 2012.
While the site no longer manufactures steel, Tata
Tata Steel Europe
Tata Steel Europe is a multinational steel-making company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the second-largest steel-maker in Europe and is a subsidiary of Tata Steel of India, one of the ten largest steel producers in the world.Corus Group was formed through the merger of Koninklijke...
remaining operations at Llanwern include a hot strip mill, a cold strip mill and a hot dip galvanising line. The works rolls 1.5 million tonnes of steel coil per annum for automotive, construction and general engineering applications.
Regeneration
A £115m renewal project called Glan LlynGlan Llyn
Glan Llyn is the brand name of a new mixed-use community development, in the east of Newport, south Wales on part of the site of the former Llanwern steelworks.-Background:...
, led by St. Modwen Properties
St. Modwen Properties
St. Modwen Properties plc is a British-based property investment and development business specialising in the regeneration and remediation of brownfield land and urban environments...
PLC, is currently transforming the former steel-producing part of the Llanwern steelworks site. Started in 2004, the masterplan envisages 1.5m sq ft of employment-generating accommodation hosting 6,000 jobs, 4,000 new dwellings, community facilities and open space including 3 new lakes. Full completion is anticipated by 2026-8.