AN UNFORGETTABLE JOURNEY MARKED BY ACHIEVEMENTS…
Decade I – (1907 – 1917)
On 26th August 1907, the Tata Iron and Steel Company (now Tata Steel Limited) was registered and shares were issued to the Indian investors. The Steel Company obtained its first collieries in 1910 and the first ingot of steel was rolled out in February 1912. The Company introduction of an eight hour working day for labourers and employees, long before these were enforced by law in this country. The Greater Extension Scheme was launched in 1916 to raise capacity to 450,000 tonnes and diversify production
Decade II – (1917 – 1927)
In acknowledgement of Tata Steel”s contribution in the allied war efforts, Lord Chelmsford visited Sakchi and renamed it Jamshedpur. Jamshedpur Technical Institute was opened in 1921 with 23 students on board. The New Rail Mill, Merchant Mill and Sheet Mill went into operation in 1925.
Decade III – (1927 – 1937)
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose (then President of the Jamshedpur Labour Association) visited Jamshedpur in 1928 and a historic agreement was signed between him and Sir N B Saklatvala, Chairman, Tata Steel and Mr C A Alexander, General Manager. This speaks of the saga of mutual cooperation and understanding that was being nurtured and developed at Tata Steel and continues to this day. Profit Sharing Bonus was granted for the first time in India in the year 1934.
Decade IV – (1937 – 1947)
“A” Furnace was ”blown-in” into operation on December 17th 1939. Special steel for war purpose was manufactured during the years 1941-42. The period of one year between 1942 and 1943, was characterized by the efforts of the Steel Company to produce a wide variety of special steels required for defense purposes including armoured cars called ”Tatanagars”. Tata Steel”s step towards nation building was in 1943 with the construction of Howrah Bridge.
Decade V – (1947 – 1957)
The Community Development & Social Welfare Department was established in 1951 with the objective to address issues arising out of urbanisation in Jamshedpur. The Two Million Expansion plan was undertaken in 1953-54. To address the problem of Population explosion, in 1954, J. R. D Tata initiated Family Planning. Bipartite Agreement in 1956 saw a landmark agreement in India, when the union and the management agreed to participate in a 3-tier system of joint consultation on major issues.
Decade VI – (1957 – 1967)
The Ferro Manganese Plant commenced production at Joda in April, 1967. This was a very special occasion for Joda, an otherwise remote valley. Modernisation through IBM 1401 was introduced in 1967. At that time, Tata Steel was the first institutions in India to have gone for total computerization as part of a Modernisation process.
Decade VII – (1967 – 1977)
Tata Steel Growth Shop which was introduced in 1968 was not just a massive engineering workshop, but a symbol of self-reliance.
Decade VIII – (1977 – 1987)
Tata Steel entered a new era of steel making with the commissioning of the 1.1. million tonne per annum L.D. (Basic Oxygen Furnace) Shop on 23rd March 1982 The First Phase of Modernisation in 1984, Tata Steel introduced BOF steelmaking which could produce liquid steel in forty five minutes when it took the old open hearth furnaces, close to five hundred. Tata Steel Rural Development Society (TSRDS) was established in 1979 to assist in irrigation, agriculture, safe drinking water, basic health care service, income generating activities, environment and forest protection, youth and women development programmes in villages around Jamshedpur.
Decade IX – (1987 – 1997)
The Second Phase of Modernisation was in 1988 when the Company concentrated largely on the iron-making area. On March 2, 1991, Jamshedpur received a sprawling, multi-crore sports complex called JRD Sports Complex dedicated to JRD. Lifeline Express, the world”s first hospital-on-wheels sponsored by Tata Steel was started in 1991, which provides basic medical facilities in remote rural areas. During the Third Phase of Modernisation in 1994, Tata Steel set up an internationally competitive flat products complex. Apart from a one million tonne hot strip mill, a new one million tonne G blast furnace was also installed. The one-million-tonne-per annum Hot Strip Mill, was commissioned on March 2, 1992. The First Slab Caster came into operation during 1993-94. The Third Phase of the Modernisation Programme was completed in 1994 – 95. Tata Steel became the First Steel Plant in India to be ISO – 14001 Certified. It received the Award for Best-Integrated Steel Plant in 1994-95. The Company also received the Prime Minister”s Trophy for the Best Integrated Steel Plant for the year 1994-95. This award was subsequently conferred again in 1998-99, 1999-2000, 2000-01 and 2001-01.
Decade X – (1997 – 2007) Tata Steel completes 100 Years of service to the Nation
World Steel Dynamics recognised Tata Steel as India”s only ”world-class steel makers” thrice in a row. It started Cold Rolling Mill Complex in 2000. The Final Phase of Modernisation was to bring about productivity enhancement through the expansion of the Hot Strip Mill from one million tonnes per annum to a two million capacity. Tata Steel launched the ”Green Millennium” wherein 1.5 million trees were planted by the company across all its locations. 75 years of industrial harmony was celebrated on 2004 with His Excellency, Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam, President of India who visited Tata Steel. It signed MoU”s with the Sate Governments for its Green field Projects in Kalinganagar (Orissa) in 2004 and in Bastar District (Chattisgarh). Tata Steel Limited signed four Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with the Government of Jharkhand not only for the Greenfield Project but also the enhancement of capacity of Jamshedpur Works. The current capacity of Works in Jamshedpur is 5 MT.
Tata Steel”s first step in the Global Market was when it acquired the steel business of NatSteel Limited, Singapore. It also signed a joint venture BlueScope Steel Limited, Australia in 2005, for setting up a metallic coating and painting unit. To boost the economy of South Africa and also add significantly to the Indian economy, Tata Steel commenced the work on Ferro Chrome Plant in 2006. On 2nd April ”07, Tata Steel acquired Corus Europe”s second largest steel producer at US$ 12 Billion, which made Tata Steel the sixth largest steel producer globally and the second-most geographically diversified steel producer in the world. It also entered into an agreement to acquire controlling equity stake in two rolling mills located in Haiphorg, Vietnam. Plant in Vietnam in 2007. It signed MoU & MoC for an investment in a 4.5 million tonnes per annum plant in Vietnam. This event was followed by the Socialist republic of Vietnam, Prime Minister Mr. Nguyen Tan Dung”s visit to Jamshedpur.