Metal Industry

An interesting design of water tower at Scunthorpe steelworks.

A water tower soars above the buildings close to the entrance at Scunthorpe steelworks.

Forges de la Providence was a Belgian steel producing company based in the Hainaut region around Charleroi. Founded as Société Anonyme des laminoirs, forges, fonderies et usines de la Providence the company had three steel production sites at Marchienne-au-Pont in Belgium, and Réhon and Hautmont in France. The company was independent until 1966 when it became part of the Cockerill-Ougrée, briefly being absorbed into Thy-Marcinelle et Monceau before becoming part of Cockerill-Sambre. In the 1980s the French steel plants closed, the Belgian plant continued to operate until 2008, becoming part of the Duferco group as Carsid at the beginnin of the 21st century. Coke and blast furnace production at the CARSID plant ceased in 2008 and did not restart - the plant was closed in 2012.

In Australia they build big corrugated iron structures. Andamooka Community Hall in the opal mining town way out in the outback of South Australia. The building now includes the Andamooka Yacht Club cafe and arts space.

The two active blast furnaces at Scunthorpe steelworks.

A heavy load of steel blooms is moved to the mills at Scunthorpe steelworks.

The reading room at Appleton-le-Moors was first opened on Tuesday November 21st 1911, funded by Joseph Page and built by Glasgow based Speirs and Company. It fell into disuse around the 1940s but thanks to recent grants has been restored. The building is now back in regular use by Appleton Film Society and Appleton Book Club amongst others.

The Whyalla Steelworks operated by Liberty OneSteel is a fully integrated steelworks and the only manufacturer of rail in Australia. It processes iron ore from the Middleback Range. Approximately 1.2 million tonnes of raw steel is produced in the steelworks each year, with about 65% of that transferred by rail to OneSteel's Market Mills as billets for further processing. The balance of the steel is then converted to finished products in the Whyalla Rolling Mill.

A line of tanks at the Scunthorpe steelworks. B to I are underneath. I am advised that they are for oxygen storage in case there is a problem with supply from BOC. Should be enough to finish off a BOS vessel to prevent losing a vessel.

M.A.N. waterless gasholder at the Saarstahl steelworks in Völklingen near Saarbrücken, in Saarland, Germany.

A Braithwaite modular tank at Scunthorpe Steelworks. The Braithwaite company dates back to 1884 under the name of Braithwaite and Kirk at Crown Bridge Works, West Bromwich. Today the business continues as part of the Rowecord Group. www.braithwaite.co.uk

Cooling tower at Scunthorpe Steelworks power station which runs on blast furnace and Basic Oxygen Steelmaking gas. There are several more cooling towers across the steelworks site.

This cast pulley is on the side of the continuous brick kiln at Prestongrange. A close look shows the frayed end of a steel cable and I can only assume that it was associated with raising and lowering a damper on the kiln. The London Electric Firm was established in Croydon in 1904 and specialised in winches, wire ropes, guide pulleys and lowering gear.

A colourful platelayers' hut on the Manchester Ship Canal railways at Manisty, Ellesmere Port. I am unsure about the need for the fire buckets at his location.

A corner of Scunthorpe steelworks.

Hot work on the slag tipping area at the ArcelorMittal integrated steelworks at Dunkerque. The plant produces more than 6 million tonnes of steel per year.

Blast furnaces at Dillingen steelworks. Dillinger Hütte GTS specialises in the production of heavy plate. The company was founded in Founded in 1685 and is Germany's oldest joint stock corporation.

Torpedoes loading iron under the No.4 blast furnace at the Dillingen steelworks. The locomotive is Henschel DHG 500 C 31112 of 1965. Dillinger Hütte GTS specialises in the production of heavy plate. The company was founded in Founded in 1685 and is Germany's oldest joint stock corporation.