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Discovery of steel on Teesside
In 1850, Iron Ore was discovered by John Vaughan, the principal Iron Master of Middlesbrough in the Cleveland Hills near Eston to the south of Middlesbrough. Information sourced from: http://www.thisismiddlesbrough.com/history/Iron_Steel_in_Middlesbroughs_History.asp Image sourced from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/summonedbyfells/4350830853/ -
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The history of steel on Teesside
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The First Blast Furnace
In 1851, John Vaughan and his German business partner Henry Bolckow built Teesside’s first blast furnace
They had already established a small iron foundry and rolling mill at Middlesbrough using iron stone from Durham and the Yorkshire Coast. Information sourced from: http://www.thisismiddlesbrough.com/history/Iron_Steel_in_Middlesbroughs_History.asp Image sourced from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/chargesmayvery/4373929282/ -
The First Bessemer Steel Plant
In 1875 Bolckow and Vaughan opened the first Bessemer Steel plant in Middlesbrough. Information sourced from: http://www.englandsnortheast.co.uk/Middlesbrough.html Image sourced from: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bessemer_converter.jpg -
The Opening of Teesside Steelworks
Teesside Steelworks at Warrenby founded by Dorman Long in 1917. The steel produced at Dorman Long was used to build the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Tyne Bridge, Auckland Harbour Bridge and many others. Information sourced from: http://rememberwhen.gazettelive.co.uk/2010/02/steel.html -
Sydney Harbour Bridge Construction
Dorman Long and Co Ltd of Middlesbrough; a major steel producer, took eight years from 1924-1932 to contruct the Syndey Harbour Bridge with steel from Teesside. Information sourced from: http://australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/sydney-harbour-bridge Image sourced from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/aviationphotos/4859549967/ -
Dorman-Long & Co merge with Bolckow-Vaughan
The depression bites and the famous name of Bolckow-Vaughan passes into history merging with neighbour Dorman-Long & Co. who become Britain's biggest iron and steel maker employing 33,000 men Information sourced from: http://www.pancrack.tv/subject.html -
New steelworks and blast furnace
The post-war boom sees Britain's premier steel-making centre remaining on the Tees as Dorman-Long builds a state of the art steelworks at Lackenby and then new blast furnaces at Clay Lane Information sourced from: http://www.pancrack.tv/subject.html -
The end of Cleveland Ironstone
The closure of North Skelton Pit marks the final act in the Cleveland Ironstone story. Only superior foreign ores are now used. Information sourced from: http://www.pancrack.tv/subject.html -
Largest blast furnace in Europe erected
The largest blast furnace in Europe is erected at BSC's new Redcar plant. Information sourced from: http://www.pancrack.tv/subject.html Image: created by me -
Worst unemployment since 1930's
The period between the 1980's and 1990's saw a lot of big changes to the Teesside society and landscape since the "iron rush" that started it all, during Mrs Thatcher's Conservative government:
* Traditional industries were decimated.
* 64,000 manufacturing jobs were lost in Cleveland.
* Long term unemployment returns to the levels of the 1930's.
* BSC is privatised. Information sourced from: http://www.pancrack.tv/subject.html
Image sourced from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/network355/492152 -
The End of Cleveland Furnaces
In 1993 - The Cleveland furnaces were blown out which ended 140 years of iron smelting at Eston Junction.
Only the South Bank Coke Ovens remain operating at the site. Information sourcred from: http://www.pancrack.tv/subject.html
Image sourced from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/12a_kingmoor_klickr/6141375794/ -
The start of Corus
Corus started in 1999 after British Steel and Dutch Hoogovens merged. Information Data sourced from SSI UK - Teeside Works Timeline
Image sourced from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lindadvries/2907419138/ -
Lackenby Closure
Corus closed the Lackenby Coil Plate Mill. Information data sourced from SSI UK - Teeside Works Timeline -
Teesside site loses demand for stee
Corus announced that the Teesside site would no longer be required to supply steel to the rest of the company, apart from supplying the Teesside Beam Mill.
Teesside Cast Products (TCP) needed to compete in selling slab on the international market. Information data sourced from SSI UK- Teesside Works Timeline
Image sourced from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lindadvries/2907419138/ -
Corus agreement to supply overseas companies
On December 16, 2004 Corus revealed their agreement for its Teesside Cast Products business to supply a consortium of overseas companies for the next decade. Information sourced from: http://ts10.gazettelive.co.uk/local-news/marching-to-new-future.html
Image sourced from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lindadvries/2907419138/ -
The Offtake Agreement
In 2005, the 10-year binding Offtake Agreement contract comes into force with four overseas slab buyers.
This consortium agreed to take 78% of Teesside Cast Products (TCP) output at cost of production. Information sourced from: http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/tees/hi/people_and_places/newsid_8950000/8950864.stm -
Tata Steel Bid
On October 17, 2006: Indian conglomerate Tata Steel made a £4.1bn takeover bid for steel making company Corus. Information sourced from: http://ts10.gazettelive.co.uk/local-news/marching-to-new-future.html Image sourced from:http://www.flickr.com/photos/techweet/5402597456/ -
Tata Steel Takeover
Indian steel Tata Steel began it's £4.3bn takeover of Anglo-Dutch firm Corus. Information sourced from: http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/tees/hi/people_and_places/newsid_8950000/8950864.stm Image sourced from:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/techweet/5402597456/ -
TCP: Number one exporter of steel
In March 2008: Teesside Cast Products was named the world's number one exporter of slab steel. Information sourced from: http://ts10.gazettelive.co.uk/local-news/marching-to-new-future.html Image sourced from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/shorelinetrail/4907968487/ -
Constorium suggets mothballing
In November 2008, the consortium asks Corus to mothball TCP but Corus refuses and agreees to reduce production by 30%. The consortium made an estimated $800 million from the Offtake Agreement but they saw the market going against it and wanted to pull out. Information Data sourced from SSI UK - Teeside Works Timeline Picture source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lindadvries/2907419138/ -
TCP redcues output by 30%
On December 9, 2008, Teesside Cast Products said it was to reduce output by 30% in a bid to keep open the Redcar plant's blast furnace. Information sourced from: http://ts10.gazettelive.co.uk/local-news/marching-to-new-future.html -
Marcegaglia & Dongkuk Look To Purchase TCP
Two consortium members, Marcegaglia & Dongkuk signed a memorandum of understanding with the view to purchase TCP. Information data sourced from SSI UK Teesside Works Timeline -
Proposed takeover
On January 29, 2009, Corus confirmed it was to sell its Teesside Cast Products business to an Italian-led partnership named Marcegaglia.
The family-owned Italian company was to become was to become the majority stakeholder in the plant, along with South Korean-based Dongkuk. Information sourced from: http://ts10.gazettelive.co.uk/local-news/marching-to-new-future.html -
Consortium pulls out
In April 2009, the consortium pulls out of the Offtake Agreement, less than half way through its term. Information data sourced from SSI UK Teesside Works Timeline -
Inevitable mothballing of Corus
In May 2009, mothballing at Corus looked inevitable, as they continued to search for a new long-term solution. Information data sourced from SSI UK- Teesside works timeline Picture source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lindadvries/2907419138/ -
Constortium walkout
On May 8, 2009 TCP announced a 90-day consultation process with a view to mothball the blast furnace. This news came after members of the consortium, that signed the 10-year deal with TCP in 2004, walked out on the agreement. Information sourced from: http://ts10.gazettelive.co.uk/local-news/marching-to-new-future.html Image: my own image -
Corus discussions with the Business secretary
Corus has discussions with the Businesses Secretary Lord Mandelson about the effects of the recession and the urgent need of assistance to help them through the downturn. Information sourced from: http://www.tatasteeleurope.com/en/news/news/2010/2010_tcp_myths_and_facts Photo sourced from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Peter_Mandelson_-_WEF.jpg -
Marcegaglia & Dongkuk pull out of purcashing TCP
Two of the consortium members; Marcegaglia & Dongkuk confirmed that they had no further interest in purcashing Teesside Cast Products. Information data sourced from SSI UK- Teesside works timeline -
Partial Mothballing Scheduled
A comprehensive search process is completed and the result is huge losses.
Partial mothballing is scheduled for January 2010 and causes hundreds of fewer jobs at the plant. Information data sourced from SSI UK- Teesside works timeline -
Corus agrees mothablling
Corus made an agreement with union that partial mothblling would begin to take place when iron ore stocks are used up.
This was proposed for the end of February at the latest. Information data sourced from SSI UK- Teesside works timeline Picture sourced from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lindadvries/2907419138/ -
TCP begins mothballing process
Teesside Cast Products begins partial mothballing process Information data sourced from SSI UK- Teesside works timeline -
SSI Signs a Memorandum
Thailand's Sahaviriya Steel Industries (SSI) signed a memorandum of understanding with Tata/ Corus to buy Teesside Cast Products. Information sourced from: http://www.ssi-steel.co.uk/presscenter.php Photo sourced from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ukinthailand/5499389430/ -
Corus name change
Corus offically changes its name to Tata Steel Information data sourced from SSI UK- Teesside works timeline Photo sourced from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/techweet/5402597456/ -
SSI Agreement of takeover
Mr. Win Viriyaprapaikit, President of Sahaviriya Steel Industries PLC or SSI signed a $469 million agreement to purchase the assets of the Iron & Steel Making Plant, Teesside Cast Products (TCP), with Dr. Karl-Ulrich Kohler, CEO of Tata Steel Europe in London, England. Information sourced from; http://www.ssi-steel.co.uk/presscenter.php Photo sourced from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ukinthailand/5499389430/ -
SSI Ceremony
SSI President Win Viriyaprapaikit receives the keys to the Redcar Blast Furnace in the offical ceremony, marking the completion of the takeover. Information data sourced from SSI UK- Teesside works timeline. My own image. -
Recruitment campaign commences
The new recruitment campaign goes live on the SSI UK website, with over a 1,000 jobs available. Information data sourced from SSI UK- Teesside works timeline -
Target date for re-opening announced
SSI UK confirmed the target date of December 8th, for the restart of Iron and Steel-making operations on Teesside. Information data sourced from SSI UK- Teesside works timeline. My own image. -
The arrival of the 1st limestone train
The 1st limestone train arrives on Teesside. Information data sourced from SSI UK- Teesside works timeline -
The arrival of the Iron Ore Boat
The China Act Iron Ore Boat arrives at the Redcar Bulk Terminal. Information data sourced from SSI UK- Teesside works timeline. Photo sourced from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/28990427@N04/5790816309/ -
Plaque Ceremony
SSI Chief Executive, Phil Dryden receives the plaque from the Tees Pilots. -
SSI delays restart
SSI announced that the original date for the restart of the Redcar blast furnace had been delayed until January 6th.
It was revealed that the extra remedial work needed for the re-opening would be not be ready for the original date of December 8th. Information data sourced from SSI UK- Teesside works timeline. My own image
