Trinec Iron and Steel Works
Encyclopedia
Třinec Iron and Steel Works (TŽ) is a producer of long rolled steel
products in Třinec
, Moravian-Silesian Region
, Czech Republic
. TŽ produces over a third of all steel produced in the Czech Republic (roughly 2.5 million tons annually). Since its establishment, Třinecké železárny's plants have produced more than 150 million tons of crude steel. Moravia Steel is the major shareholder of TŽ, the biggest Czech steel company controlled by domestic capital.
The area was rich in limestone
, iron ore, clay
and had a source of energy (the Olza River
). The area also offered enough of a work force and it lies on a trade route from Slovakia
, so a decision was taken to build an iron works at the location. In 1836 the construction of the first metallurgical furnace began. The iron mill began operating in 1839, becoming the largest in all of Cieszyn Silesia
. At first, wood coal was used to heat the furnace; wood was cut in the nearby Silesian Beskids
and Moravian-Silesian Beskids
and floated on the Olza River in spring when the snow melted and the water level in the river rose. The Olza River was the most important means of transport until the 1870s, when the factories were modernized and a water canal was built to provide more water. The Olza River was also used to flush out the waste from the iron works. The first water cleaning facility was built in 1927. Modern water cleaning systems ensure that the outflow from the factory is nearly as clean as the inflow.
Since 1920, when Cieszyn Silesia was divided, it has been one of the most important industrial centers of Czechoslovakia
. TŽ was nationalized in 1946 and its development continued during the Communist era, when heavy industry
was very important. It is the largest steel mill in the country and still has a major impact on the industrial town of Třinec and surrounding areas, on its character, demographics and air pollution
, although the latter significantly decreased since the fall of communism in 1989.
From 1960s to 1980s it played major role in the life of the region. Iron and steel works helped to improve regional infrastructure, as well as the transport network. Many recreational centers in the Beskids were built.
(Třinec Steelers).
The recent product portfolio of Třinecké železárny has been oriented to processing the steel produced mainly in BOF converters
to the wide range of long rolled products, such as rails, railway superstructure accessories, rebars, sections, wire rod, steel semis and special bars. The products are sold through the commercial network of the controlling company Moravia Steel at the domestic as well at the export markets. Each year, roughly the half of production of the rolled products of TŽ is used by consumers in about 50 countries worldwide.
Třinec Iron and Steel Works are locally and colloquially known as Werk (the German
word for factory).
Current chairman of Třinec Iron and Steel Works is from 1997 Doc. Dr. Ing. Jerzy Cienciała, local Pole
.
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...
products in Třinec
Trinec
Třinec is a town in Frýdek-Místek District, Moravian-Silesian Region of the Czech Republic. It lies on the Olza River, in the historical region of Cieszyn Silesia. The town has 37,405 inhabitants as of 2009, in 2001 17.7% of the population were Poles...
, Moravian-Silesian Region
Moravian-Silesian Region
Moravian-Silesian Region , or Moravo-Silesian Region, is one of 14 administrative Regions of the Czech Republic, until May 2001 it was formerly called the Ostrava Region . The region is located in the north-eastern part of its historical region of Moravia and in most of the Czech part of the...
, Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
. TŽ produces over a third of all steel produced in the Czech Republic (roughly 2.5 million tons annually). Since its establishment, Třinecké železárny's plants have produced more than 150 million tons of crude steel. Moravia Steel is the major shareholder of TŽ, the biggest Czech steel company controlled by domestic capital.
History
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
, iron ore, clay
Clay
Clay is a general term including many combinations of one or more clay minerals with traces of metal oxides and organic matter. Geologic clay deposits are mostly composed of phyllosilicate minerals containing variable amounts of water trapped in the mineral structure.- Formation :Clay minerals...
and had a source of energy (the Olza River
Olza River
is a river in Poland and the Czech Republic, the right tributary of the Oder River. It flows from the Silesian Beskids through southern Cieszyn Silesia in Poland and Frýdek-Místek and Karviná districts of the Czech Republic, often forming the border with Poland. It flows into the Oder River north...
). The area also offered enough of a work force and it lies on a trade route from Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
, so a decision was taken to build an iron works at the location. In 1836 the construction of the first metallurgical furnace began. The iron mill began operating in 1839, becoming the largest in all of Cieszyn Silesia
Cieszyn Silesia
Cieszyn Silesia or Těšín Silesia or Teschen Silesia is a historical region in south-eastern Silesia, centered around the towns of Cieszyn and Český Těšín and bisected by the Olza River. Since 1920 it has been divided between Poland and Czechoslovakia, and later the Czech Republic...
. At first, wood coal was used to heat the furnace; wood was cut in the nearby Silesian Beskids
Silesian Beskids
Silesian Beskids is one of the Beskids mountain ranges in Outer Western Carpathians in southern Silesian Voivodeship, Poland and the eastern Moravian-Silesian Region, Czech Republic.Most of the range lies in Poland...
and Moravian-Silesian Beskids
Moravian-Silesian Beskids
The Moravian-Silesian Beskids is a mountain range in the Czech Republic with a small part reaching to Slovakia. It lies on the historical division between Moravia and Silesia, hence the name...
and floated on the Olza River in spring when the snow melted and the water level in the river rose. The Olza River was the most important means of transport until the 1870s, when the factories were modernized and a water canal was built to provide more water. The Olza River was also used to flush out the waste from the iron works. The first water cleaning facility was built in 1927. Modern water cleaning systems ensure that the outflow from the factory is nearly as clean as the inflow.
Since 1920, when Cieszyn Silesia was divided, it has been one of the most important industrial centers of Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
. TŽ was nationalized in 1946 and its development continued during the Communist era, when 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...
was very important. It is the largest steel mill in the country and still has a major impact on the industrial town of Třinec and surrounding areas, on its character, demographics and air pollution
Air pollution
Air pollution is the introduction of chemicals, particulate matter, or biological materials that cause harm or discomfort to humans or other living organisms, or cause damage to the natural environment or built environment, into the atmosphere....
, although the latter significantly decreased since the fall of communism in 1989.
From 1960s to 1980s it played major role in the life of the region. Iron and steel works helped to improve regional infrastructure, as well as the transport network. Many recreational centers in the Beskids were built.
Today
It is the main employer in the area, with the Iron and Steel Works employing 5,519 people in 2005. The number of permanently employed workers has historically been declining, numbering 9,276 people in 1998, while during the communist era more than 15,000 worked there. The actual number of people working for TŽ is still somewhat higher, as many people are employed seasonally in brigade work and in affiliated facilities. The company is the main sponsor of the local ice hockey team HC Oceláři TřinecHC Ocelári Trinec
HC Oceláři Třinec is an ice hockey team who play in the Czech Extraliga, the top tier of Czech ice hockey. Their home arena is Werk Arena in Třinec...
(Třinec Steelers).
The recent product portfolio of Třinecké železárny has been oriented to processing the steel produced mainly in BOF converters
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...
to the wide range of long rolled products, such as rails, railway superstructure accessories, rebars, sections, wire rod, steel semis and special bars. The products are sold through the commercial network of the controlling company Moravia Steel at the domestic as well at the export markets. Each year, roughly the half of production of the rolled products of TŽ is used by consumers in about 50 countries worldwide.
Třinec Iron and Steel Works are locally and colloquially known as Werk (the German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
word for factory).
Current chairman of Třinec Iron and Steel Works is from 1997 Doc. Dr. Ing. Jerzy Cienciała, local Pole
Polish minority in the Czech Republic
The Polish minority in the Czech Republic is a Polish national minority living mainly in the Zaolzie region of western Cieszyn Silesia. The Polish community is the only national minority in the Czech Republic that is linked to a specific geographical area. Zaolzie is located in the north-eastern...
.