Manuel Savio
Encyclopedia
Manuel Nicolás Aristóbulo Savio (Buenos Aires
, 15 March 1893 — Buenos Aires, 31 July 1948) was an Argentine
engineer and military man, noted for his contribution to Argentine heavy industry
in his roles as general manager of Fabricaciones Militares and SOMISA.
Under Savio's auspices, the Higher Technical School ("Escuela Superior Técnica") was created in 1930, open to members of all armed services. Even though the coup d'état
of September 1930 ousted and prosecuted General Enrique Mosconi
, a pioneer of the Argentine petroleum
industry, Savio was given free rein to pursue his projects. In time, Savio came to be perceived as Mosconi's rightful successor as the prime force behind Argentina's industrial progress.
Savio authored law number 12.709 in 1941 (under President Roberto Ortiz
creating the General Directorate of Military Works ("Dirección General de Fabricaciones Militares", or DGFM) and was made its general manager. In this role, Savio was a main force in the erection of the Zapla Ironworks (Altos Hornos Zapla
) in Jujuy Province
, next to rich iron ore deposits.
From his post in DGFM, Savio also provided strong support for heavy chemical industry
. The Río Tercero, José de la Quintana, and Tucumán
plants were created under his watch. Savio established links to mechanical industries, and he supported Argentina's drive towards mining
self-sufficiency. Savio also drafted plans for production of natural and synthetic rubber
, and bills for ensuring the protection of raw materials.
The National Metallurgy Plan (law 12.987, year 1947, under President Juan Domingo Perón), which became known as the "Savio plan". That plan created SOMISA (Sociedad Mixta Siderúrgica Argentina), a mixed-capital society for the production of steel
; Savio was SOMISA's first president.
Savio died in 1948, and many of his projects were halted. His main metallurgy plan was implemented long after his death by President Arturo Frondizi
in 1958 with the establishment of the Punta Argerich plant (near Ramallo, Buenos Aires
), which was later named after Savio.
General Savio is honored in Argentina as a pioneer of industry. Many technical schools, industrial complexes and places are named after him. In particular, many landmarks carry Savio's name in and around the metallurgy belt centered in Villa Constitución
, Santa Fe
.
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, 15 March 1893 — Buenos Aires, 31 July 1948) was an Argentine
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
engineer and military man, noted for his contribution to Argentine heavy industry
Heavy industry
Heavy industry does not have a single fixed meaning as compared to light industry. It can mean production of products which are either heavy in weight or in the processes leading to their production. In general, it is a popular term used within the name of many Japanese and Korean firms, meaning...
in his roles as general manager of Fabricaciones Militares and SOMISA.
Biography
Savio enrolled in the Military Academy (Colegio Militar de la Nación) on 3 March 1909, and graduated as second lieutenant in 1910. He graduated as military engineer in 1931, and was promoted to colonel in 1936, brigadier-general in 1942 and full general in 1946.Under Savio's auspices, the Higher Technical School ("Escuela Superior Técnica") was created in 1930, open to members of all armed services. Even though the coup d'état
Coup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
of September 1930 ousted and prosecuted General Enrique Mosconi
Enrique Mosconi
Enrique Carlos Alberto Mosconi was an Argentine military engineer, who is best known as the pioneer and organizer of petroleum surveyance and exploitation in Argentina....
, a pioneer of the Argentine petroleum
Petroleum
Petroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
industry, Savio was given free rein to pursue his projects. In time, Savio came to be perceived as Mosconi's rightful successor as the prime force behind Argentina's industrial progress.
Savio authored law number 12.709 in 1941 (under President Roberto Ortiz
Roberto Ortíz
Roberto Ortíz is an undefeated Mexican boxer in the Light Welterweight division and is the current WBA Fedecaribe Light Welterweight Champion.-External links:...
creating the General Directorate of Military Works ("Dirección General de Fabricaciones Militares", or DGFM) and was made its general manager. In this role, Savio was a main force in the erection of the Zapla Ironworks (Altos Hornos Zapla
Altos Hornos Zapla
Asociación Cultural y Deportiva Altos Hornos Zapla is an Argentine Football club from Palpalá, in the Jujuy Province of Argentina. The team currently plays in the regionalised 4th level of Argentinian football, the Torneo Argentino B....
) in Jujuy Province
Jujuy Province
Jujuy is a province of Argentina, located in the extreme northwest of the country, at the borders with Chile and Bolivia. The only neighboring Argentine province is Salta to the east and south.-History:...
, next to rich iron ore deposits.
From his post in DGFM, Savio also provided strong support for heavy chemical industry
Chemical industry
The chemical industry comprises the companies that produce industrial chemicals. Central to the modern world economy, it converts raw materials into more than 70,000 different products.-Products:...
. The Río Tercero, José de la Quintana, and Tucumán
Tucumán
San Miguel de Tucumán is the capital of the Tucumán Province, located in northern Argentina at from Buenos Aires. It is the fifth biggest city of Argentina after Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Rosario and Mendoza, and it is also the most important city of Northern Argentina...
plants were created under his watch. Savio established links to mechanical industries, and he supported Argentina's drive towards mining
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
self-sufficiency. Savio also drafted plans for production of natural and synthetic rubber
Rubber
Natural rubber, also called India rubber or caoutchouc, is an elastomer that was originally derived from latex, a milky colloid produced by some plants. The plants would be ‘tapped’, that is, an incision made into the bark of the tree and the sticky, milk colored latex sap collected and refined...
, and bills for ensuring the protection of raw materials.
The National Metallurgy Plan (law 12.987, year 1947, under President Juan Domingo Perón), which became known as the "Savio plan". That plan created SOMISA (Sociedad Mixta Siderúrgica Argentina), a mixed-capital society for the production of steel
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...
; Savio was SOMISA's first president.
Savio died in 1948, and many of his projects were halted. His main metallurgy plan was implemented long after his death by President Arturo Frondizi
Arturo Frondizi
Arturo Frondizi Ercoli was the President of Argentina between May 1, 1958, and March 29, 1962, for the Intransigent Radical Civic Union.-Early life:Frondizi was born in Paso de los Libres, Corrientes Province...
in 1958 with the establishment of the Punta Argerich plant (near Ramallo, Buenos Aires
Ramallo, Buenos Aires
Ramallo is a town in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. It is the head town of the Ramallo Partido. It is located on next to the Río Paraná.-Economy:...
), which was later named after Savio.
General Savio is honored in Argentina as a pioneer of industry. Many technical schools, industrial complexes and places are named after him. In particular, many landmarks carry Savio's name in and around the metallurgy belt centered in Villa Constitución
Villa Constitución
Villa Constitución is a city in the province of Santa Fe, Argentina, and the head town of the Constitución Department. It is located on the south-western banks of the Paraná River between the courses of the Arroyo Pavón and the Arroyo del Medio, about 214 km south from the provincial capital,...
, Santa Fe
Santa Fe Province
The Invincible Province of Santa Fe, in Spanish Provincia Invencible de Santa Fe , is a province of Argentina, located in the center-east of the country. Neighboring provinces are from the north clockwise Chaco , Corrientes, Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires, Córdoba, and Santiago del Estero...
.
Works by Savio
- Industrial Movilization (Movilización industrial, 1933)
- Argentine Steel Policy (Política Argentina del acero, 1942)
- Policy of Argentine Metalworking Production (Política de la producción metalúrgica Argentina, 1944)
- Fundamentals of the Military Works law (Conceptos que fundamentaron el proyecto de la ley de Fabricaciones militares, 1944).
Biography
- Larra, Raúl (1992). The Argentine who forged steel (El argentino que forjó el acero). Buenos Aires: Centro Editor de America Latina. ISBN 9789502523750.
