Minière et Métallurgique de Rodange
Encyclopedia
The Minière et Métallurgique de Rodange (MMR) (mines and steelworks of Rodange
) was a Luxembourgian blast furnace steel producer and mining company originally established in 1872 as the Hauts-Fourneaux de Rodange. From 1905 to 1935 the company was a division of the Ougrée-Marihaye
company.
In 1973 the company was merged with the Société des Hauts Fourneaux et Aciéries d'Athus to form the company Métallurgique et Minière de Rodange-Athus (MMRA), and in 1978 ARBED
acquired a 25% stake in the company. From the late 1970s onward the Athus
plant closed and production of steel and mining activities ceased at Rodange. The company then became a re-roller of steel specialising in rails. In 1994 the company merged with another Luxembourg based steel company based in Schifflange
ARBED - Esch-Schifflange (AES), founded 1871 by the Metz family
as Usine METZ (Esch-Schifflange), formed part of ARBED
in 1911. see Schifflange steelworks to form ARES (Aciéries Rodange Esch-Schifflange) part of ProfilARBEB, the long products division of ARBED.
As of 2010 the remains of the company is known as ArcelorMittal Rodange & Schifflange S.A., part of the ArcelorMittal group.
s. Initially the works produced only pig iron
. The first blast furnace
began operation in 1878. In 1879 a 1.7km ropeway conveyor
was opened between the iron works and the Doihl mine. and in 1880 a second furnace began production. In the 1880s the company obtained concessions in the Walert Mine (Rumelange
) and a mine at Ottange
in Moselle
, France. In 1897 the third blast furnace began operation.
In 1899 the company Usines et Fonderies de Rodange was founded, for the production of pipes and other metal castings. (In 1908 it was taken over by SA Hauts-Forneaux de Rodange.)
In 1905 the company merged into Ougrée-Marihaye
. ending its independent existence, becoming a division of Ougrée-Marihaye.
A Gilchrist-Thomas converter was added in 1907, and in 1911 a plant was created for the milling of phosphate slag by Antwerp firm Totte, Milch & Cie; in 1919 this mill was acquired by the Steelworks of Rodange.
In the 1910s the blast furnaces were modernised and the number increased to five. During the 1930s after the stock market crash
the firm Ougrée-Marihaye required financial support, and was restructured in the later 1930s; the division S.A. Minière et Métallurgique de Rodange-Ougrée - MMR was formed in 1935 and became independent again as S.A. Minière et Métallurgique de Rodange (MMR) in 1936.
s for cast iron and two for ferromanganese
, medium (600mm) and small (~350mm) rolling trains, a casting foundry, a mill for the processing of slag and various workshops in an area of ~300 ha (3,000,000 m²).
In 1950 the blooming mill became electrically operated, in the 1950s and 60s further machines were converted to electric power, LDAC process (basic oxygen steelmaking
) was introduced replacing the Gilchrist-Thomas process, and other modernisations and improvements made.
In 1972 the company is renamed S.A. Métallurgique et Minière de Rodange and in 1973 the plant merges with the nearby steelworks situated in Athus
to form Métallurgique et Minière de Rodange - Athus (MMRA), the steelworks in Athus is completely closed soon after.
acquired a 25% stake in the company.
The 1970s steel crisis
not only caused the closure of the Athus steelworks in 1977, but also all mining, casting and steel making activities were ended in Rodange in 1978; the steel mill now being supplied by torpedo wagon from other ARBED
steel plants. In the 1980s the plant became a re-roller of steel, specialising in railway rails.
In 1994 the plant merged with the Schifflange steelworks (part of the ARBED
group) to form ARES (Aciéries Rodange Esch-Schifflange).
, becoming part of Arcelor
in 2003, and part of ArcelorMittal in 2006.
From 2008 the plants in Rodange and Schifflange are name ArcelorMittal Rodange and Schifflange S.A., as of 2010 they are part of the division "ARCELORMittal Long Carbon Europe", the Rodange plant has two rolling mills producing rebar
, crane rails and other long rolled steel products.
Rodange
Rodange is a town in the commune of Pétange, in south-western Luxembourg. It lies next to the border with Belgium, across which is the town of Athus. The town is to the south-west of the town of Pétange and to the west of the smaller town of Lamadelaine...
) was a Luxembourgian blast furnace steel producer and mining company originally established in 1872 as the Hauts-Fourneaux de Rodange. From 1905 to 1935 the company was a division of the Ougrée-Marihaye
Ougrée-Marihaye
The Belgian iron and steel producing company Ougrée-Marihaye was formed in 1835 by the merger of the iron and steel works in Ougree in the province of Liège, and the coal mines of Marihaye. The company merged with the Société anonyme John Cockerill in 1955 to form Cockerill-Ougrée.-History:In 1809...
company.
In 1973 the company was merged with the Société des Hauts Fourneaux et Aciéries d'Athus to form the company Métallurgique et Minière de Rodange-Athus (MMRA), and in 1978 ARBED
Arbed
ARBED was a major Luxembourg-based steel and iron producing company. Created in 1911 after the merger of three steel producing companies, ARBED was a major actor in the economic history of the Grand-Duchy until it merged in 2002 with two other European steel companies to create Arcelor.- Origins ...
acquired a 25% stake in the company. From the late 1970s onward the Athus
Athus
Athus is a town in the Aubange municipality of the province of Luxembourg, in south-eastern Belgium. It is located in the far south of the country, near the borders with France and Luxembourg...
plant closed and production of steel and mining activities ceased at Rodange. The company then became a re-roller of steel specialising in rails. In 1994 the company merged with another Luxembourg based steel company based in Schifflange
Schifflange
Schifflange is a commune and town in south-western Luxembourg. It is part of the canton of Esch-sur-Alzette, which is part of the district of Luxembourg., the town of Schifflange, which lies in the west of the commune, has a population of 7,849....
ARBED - Esch-Schifflange (AES), founded 1871 by the Metz family
Metz family
The Metz family is a family in Luxembourg that was prominent in politics and industry in the mid- and late nineteenth century and early twentieth century. The head of the household was Jean Metz, who had nine children...
as Usine METZ (Esch-Schifflange), formed part of ARBED
Arbed
ARBED was a major Luxembourg-based steel and iron producing company. Created in 1911 after the merger of three steel producing companies, ARBED was a major actor in the economic history of the Grand-Duchy until it merged in 2002 with two other European steel companies to create Arcelor.- Origins ...
in 1911. see Schifflange steelworks to form ARES (Aciéries Rodange Esch-Schifflange) part of ProfilARBEB, the long products division of ARBED.
As of 2010 the remains of the company is known as ArcelorMittal Rodange & Schifflange S.A., part of the ArcelorMittal group.
SA Hauts-Fourneaux de Rodange (1872-1935)
The Société Anonyme des Hauts-Fourneaux de Rodange was founded in 1872 by the brothers Charles and Jules Collart and Thomas Byrne with a capital of 2.5million Luxembourgish francLuxembourgish franc
The Luxembourgish franc was the currency of Luxembourg between 1854 and 1999 . The franc remained in circulation until 2002, when it was replaced by the euro...
s. Initially the works produced only pig iron
Pig iron
Pig iron is the intermediate product of smelting iron ore with a high-carbon fuel such as coke, usually with limestone as a flux. Charcoal and anthracite have also been used as fuel...
. The first blast furnace
Blast furnace
A blast furnace is a type of metallurgical furnace used for smelting to produce industrial metals, generally iron.In a blast furnace, fuel and ore and flux are continuously supplied through the top of the furnace, while air is blown into the bottom of the chamber, so that the chemical reactions...
began operation in 1878. In 1879 a 1.7km ropeway conveyor
Ropeway conveyor
A ropeway conveyor or material ropeway is essentially a subtype of gondola lift, from which containers for goods rather than passenger cars are suspended....
was opened between the iron works and the Doihl mine. and in 1880 a second furnace began production. In the 1880s the company obtained concessions in the Walert Mine (Rumelange
Rumelange
Rumelange is a commune with city status in south-western Luxembourg, on the border with France., the town of Rumelange, which lies in the east of the commune, has a population of 4,818. It is also the site of some of the underground iron mines no longer in operation...
) and a mine at Ottange
Ottange
Ottange is a commune in the Moselle department in Lorraine in north-eastern France....
in Moselle
Moselle
Moselle is a department in the east of France named after the river Moselle.- History :Moselle is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...
, France. In 1897 the third blast furnace began operation.
In 1899 the company Usines et Fonderies de Rodange was founded, for the production of pipes and other metal castings. (In 1908 it was taken over by SA Hauts-Forneaux de Rodange.)
In 1905 the company merged into Ougrée-Marihaye
Ougrée-Marihaye
The Belgian iron and steel producing company Ougrée-Marihaye was formed in 1835 by the merger of the iron and steel works in Ougree in the province of Liège, and the coal mines of Marihaye. The company merged with the Société anonyme John Cockerill in 1955 to form Cockerill-Ougrée.-History:In 1809...
. ending its independent existence, becoming a division of Ougrée-Marihaye.
A Gilchrist-Thomas converter was added in 1907, and in 1911 a plant was created for the milling of phosphate slag by Antwerp firm Totte, Milch & Cie; in 1919 this mill was acquired by the Steelworks of Rodange.
In the 1910s the blast furnaces were modernised and the number increased to five. During the 1930s after the stock market crash
Wall Street Crash of 1929
The Wall Street Crash of 1929 , also known as the Great Crash, and the Stock Market Crash of 1929, was the most devastating stock market crash in the history of the United States, taking into consideration the full extent and duration of its fallout...
the firm Ougrée-Marihaye required financial support, and was restructured in the later 1930s; the division S.A. Minière et Métallurgique de Rodange-Ougrée - MMR was formed in 1935 and became independent again as S.A. Minière et Métallurgique de Rodange (MMR) in 1936.
Minière et Métallurgique de Rodange (1936-1972)
During the Second World War the plant was operated under german control, in 1944 it regain its independence. After the war blast furnace 1 was rebuilt to a 5m diameter by 1949 (operational 1954); in 1949 the plant had five blast furnaces, four converters, two cupola furnaceCupola furnace
A Cupola or Cupola furnace is a melting device used in foundries that can be used to melt cast iron, ni-resist iron and some bronzes. The cupola can be made almost any practical size. The size of a cupola is expressed in diameters and can range from . The overall shape is cylindrical and the...
s for cast iron and two for ferromanganese
Ferromanganese
Ferromanganese, a ferroalloy with high content of manganese, is made by heating a mixture of the oxides MnO2 and Fe2O3, with carbon, usually as coal and coke, in either a blast furnace or an electric arc furnace-type system, called a submerged arc furnace. The oxides undergo carbothermal reduction...
, medium (600mm) and small (~350mm) rolling trains, a casting foundry, a mill for the processing of slag and various workshops in an area of ~300 ha (3,000,000 m²).
In 1950 the blooming mill became electrically operated, in the 1950s and 60s further machines were converted to electric power, LDAC process (basic oxygen steelmaking
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...
) was introduced replacing the Gilchrist-Thomas process, and other modernisations and improvements made.
In 1972 the company is renamed S.A. Métallurgique et Minière de Rodange and in 1973 the plant merges with the nearby steelworks situated in Athus
Athus
Athus is a town in the Aubange municipality of the province of Luxembourg, in south-eastern Belgium. It is located in the far south of the country, near the borders with France and Luxembourg...
to form Métallurgique et Minière de Rodange - Athus (MMRA), the steelworks in Athus is completely closed soon after.
Métallurgique et Minière de Rodange - Athus (1972-1994)
In 1978 ARBEDArbed
ARBED was a major Luxembourg-based steel and iron producing company. Created in 1911 after the merger of three steel producing companies, ARBED was a major actor in the economic history of the Grand-Duchy until it merged in 2002 with two other European steel companies to create Arcelor.- Origins ...
acquired a 25% stake in the company.
The 1970s steel crisis
Steel crisis
The steel crisis was a recession in the global steel market during the 1970s recession, following the end of the post-World War II economic boom and the 1973 oil crisis....
not only caused the closure of the Athus steelworks in 1977, but also all mining, casting and steel making activities were ended in Rodange in 1978; the steel mill now being supplied by torpedo wagon from other ARBED
Arbed
ARBED was a major Luxembourg-based steel and iron producing company. Created in 1911 after the merger of three steel producing companies, ARBED was a major actor in the economic history of the Grand-Duchy until it merged in 2002 with two other European steel companies to create Arcelor.- Origins ...
steel plants. In the 1980s the plant became a re-roller of steel, specialising in railway rails.
In 1994 the plant merged with the Schifflange steelworks (part of the ARBED
Arbed
ARBED was a major Luxembourg-based steel and iron producing company. Created in 1911 after the merger of three steel producing companies, ARBED was a major actor in the economic history of the Grand-Duchy until it merged in 2002 with two other European steel companies to create Arcelor.- Origins ...
group) to form ARES (Aciéries Rodange Esch-Schifflange).
ARES and successors (1994-)
From 1994 to 2006 the company ARES followed the fate of its parent ARBEDArbed
ARBED was a major Luxembourg-based steel and iron producing company. Created in 1911 after the merger of three steel producing companies, ARBED was a major actor in the economic history of the Grand-Duchy until it merged in 2002 with two other European steel companies to create Arcelor.- Origins ...
, becoming part of Arcelor
Arcelor
Arcelor S.A. was the world's largest steel producer in terms of turnover and the second largest in terms of steel output, with a turnover of €30.2 billion and shipments of 45 million metric tons of steel in 2004...
in 2003, and part of ArcelorMittal in 2006.
From 2008 the plants in Rodange and Schifflange are name ArcelorMittal Rodange and Schifflange S.A., as of 2010 they are part of the division "ARCELORMittal Long Carbon Europe", the Rodange plant has two rolling mills producing rebar
Rebar
A rebar , also known as reinforcing steel, reinforcement steel, rerod, or a deformed bar, is a common steel bar, and is commonly used as a tensioning device in reinforced concrete and reinforced masonry structures holding the concrete in compression...
, crane rails and other long rolled steel products.