Tata Steel... A 100 Years And Still Counting...
~Celebrating an achievement, accomplished by
few...~
Jamshedpur, August 24, 2007
A vision envisaged by the Founder... executed by his successors... developed and evolved by future generations... to become today, a Global enterprise! This is the story of Tata Steel which completes 100 glorious years of existence on August 26, 2007 following the ideals and philosophy laid down by its Founder, Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata way back in 1907. It is an honour to celebrate this momentous occasion, when the first private sector steel plant which started with a production capacity of 1,00,000 tonnes has transformed into a global giant with a production capacity of almost 26MT.
According to Mr. B Muthuraman, Managing Director - Tata Steel,
"More than a chronology of events, the Centenary of our Company is a celebration of enduring values, exemplary corporate governance and unique achievements in creating customer delight. The Centenary story of Tata Steel is also linked intrinsically to the genesis and growth of an Industrial India, as envisioned by our Founder Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata. It is a story that we will continue to celebrate in multiple ways over the next one year. We look forward to another hundred years and more of creating wealth and well-being for all the communities we serve."
To commemorate the completion of 100 years of successful operations, a milestone achieved by few, there is a host of events and activities lined up for the citizens of Jamshedpur.
There will be a cake cutting ceremony by Mr. B Muthuraman, Managing Director - Tata Steel at Tata Steel Archives at 12.30 pm. This will be followed by the
inauguration of the re-designed Founder's Gallery at Tata Steel Archives by the MD. He will also launch
Tata Steel's Centenary Micro-site - www.tatasteel100.com. A site with interactive features like "Share Your Story" and "Impressions", where a viewer can share his memories and experiences about the company, "People", a section on leaders of past and present, "Snapshots", focusing on some historic moments of the company, "Advertisements", a section comprising of print and electronic advertisements of the company over these ten decades. The site will also have updates on the Centenary Projects that will be undertaken during the year. There will be an events guide section which will inform viewers of forthcoming events and contain reports on functions that have taken place in the past.
Centenary year of Tata Steel will witness the launch of long awaited
Air Deccan commercial flight connecting Jamshedpur and Kolkata. The special inaugural flight carrying guests from Tata Steel will take off from Kolkata at 10.00 am and land in Jamshedpur amidst celebration. The first flight from Jamshedpur to Kolkata will be flagged off by Mr. B Muthuraman, Managing Director - Tata Steel on the same day at 12.00 noon.
The evening will be marked by an internal function at Tata Steel Works which will be attended by all Tata Steel employees, Union Committee Members and Head's of Tata Steel Group Companies. The august gathering will witness the release of the book by R.
M. Lala titled "Romance of Tata Steel". This will be followed by a film on the Centenary of Tata Steel named "The Spirit of Steel" directed by Zafar Hai will be screened showcasing the legacy of the Company. A special anthem that has been penned down to mark the hundredth year of Tata Steel will also be launched.
In addition to these functions on August 26, 2007, there will be a series of events planned throughout the year so as to touch all our stakeholders who have been our partners in this 100 year journey.
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.Tata Steel celebrated its Golden Jubilee in 1958 and Jubilee Park was given as a gift to the citizens of Jamshedpur by Tata Steel.
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 (Chhattisgarh). 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.