TEESSIDE SCAFFOLDER
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New era for Teesside steel says SSI chief
by Karen McLauchlan, Evening Gazette
Mar 25 2011
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“A NEW chapter” for Teesside steel starts today.
So says the man at the helm of the company that has given steel-making a bright future - on the day it officially takes over Teesside Cast Products.
Win Viriyaprapaikit, president of Thailand’s SSI, was today being handed the key to the Redcar blast furnace in a ceremony marking the completion of the £291m takeover of the site.
The deal, which was completed at 6pm yesterday, will re-ignite Teesside’s proud 150 year tradition of steel making, safeguard 700 jobs, create 800 more and bring $1bn of investment to our doorstep.
Today’s celebrations come at the end of two-year, hard fought campaign to Save Our Steel.
“Today is a celebration for everyone,” said Mr Viriyaprapaikit.
“This isn’t just about the re-starting of steel making, it restores 150 years of heritage - it is part of history.”
With plans for the site to be making steel again by the fourth quarter of 2011, Mr Viriyaprapaikit said there was “a lot of hard work” to do to get the site up and running again.
He said recruitment would start “as soon as possible” with engineering work to bring the blast furnace back on line beginning as soon as next week.
SSI has already committed to invest $1bn on Teesside - which includes the purchase of the site.
SSI is now considering options to carry out work on the blast furnace to extend its current operating life span before a full re-line - which is due in 2014 - is required.
“There’s work we could do that would extend things for one to two years or another option that would extend things for 10 to 12 years.”
Visiting Teesside last year Mr Viriyaprapaikit praised Teesside’s enormous pride and passion for steel-making - describing it as something he has never felt “anywhere else in the world”.
As celebrations were about to get underway today, he said the region’s pride for steel is something that continues to shine through.
“I meet new people every day and everyone is so passionate about the plant and steel-making - it’s a real wonder.
“When we signed the agreement in February I had so many messages from people who wanted me to know how happy they were that steel making was returning.”
SSI will now gradually ramp up its recruitment process for the site.
Phil Dryden, a former Corus boss involved in talks to find a buyer for Teesside Cast Products, was recently announced as president of SSI UK.
Steel bosses from SSI and Tata Steel, along with unions, workers and members of the local community were coming together at the Redcar site for the handover of the current TCP iron and steel-making assets in Redcar from Tata Steel to SSI.
The event is in marked contrast to the last time workers gathered at the gates of the Redcar plant.
People came together on February 19, 2010, as the mothballing of TCP’s blast furnace began - a sombre tribute to the end of 150 years of steel-making.
Today’s event, however, is all about celebration and renewal.
“It will be a very emotional,” added Mr Viriyaprapaikit.
“We have worked on this for the last 12 months - but local people have been through this for two years.
“It’s a new chapter for everyone.”
by Karen McLauchlan, Evening Gazette
Mar 25 2011
0Share
“A NEW chapter” for Teesside steel starts today.
So says the man at the helm of the company that has given steel-making a bright future - on the day it officially takes over Teesside Cast Products.
Win Viriyaprapaikit, president of Thailand’s SSI, was today being handed the key to the Redcar blast furnace in a ceremony marking the completion of the £291m takeover of the site.
The deal, which was completed at 6pm yesterday, will re-ignite Teesside’s proud 150 year tradition of steel making, safeguard 700 jobs, create 800 more and bring $1bn of investment to our doorstep.
Today’s celebrations come at the end of two-year, hard fought campaign to Save Our Steel.
“Today is a celebration for everyone,” said Mr Viriyaprapaikit.
“This isn’t just about the re-starting of steel making, it restores 150 years of heritage - it is part of history.”
With plans for the site to be making steel again by the fourth quarter of 2011, Mr Viriyaprapaikit said there was “a lot of hard work” to do to get the site up and running again.
He said recruitment would start “as soon as possible” with engineering work to bring the blast furnace back on line beginning as soon as next week.
SSI has already committed to invest $1bn on Teesside - which includes the purchase of the site.
SSI is now considering options to carry out work on the blast furnace to extend its current operating life span before a full re-line - which is due in 2014 - is required.
“There’s work we could do that would extend things for one to two years or another option that would extend things for 10 to 12 years.”
Visiting Teesside last year Mr Viriyaprapaikit praised Teesside’s enormous pride and passion for steel-making - describing it as something he has never felt “anywhere else in the world”.
As celebrations were about to get underway today, he said the region’s pride for steel is something that continues to shine through.
“I meet new people every day and everyone is so passionate about the plant and steel-making - it’s a real wonder.
“When we signed the agreement in February I had so many messages from people who wanted me to know how happy they were that steel making was returning.”
SSI will now gradually ramp up its recruitment process for the site.
Phil Dryden, a former Corus boss involved in talks to find a buyer for Teesside Cast Products, was recently announced as president of SSI UK.
Steel bosses from SSI and Tata Steel, along with unions, workers and members of the local community were coming together at the Redcar site for the handover of the current TCP iron and steel-making assets in Redcar from Tata Steel to SSI.
The event is in marked contrast to the last time workers gathered at the gates of the Redcar plant.
People came together on February 19, 2010, as the mothballing of TCP’s blast furnace began - a sombre tribute to the end of 150 years of steel-making.
Today’s event, however, is all about celebration and renewal.
“It will be a very emotional,” added Mr Viriyaprapaikit.
“We have worked on this for the last 12 months - but local people have been through this for two years.
“It’s a new chapter for everyone.”