The tin plate unit of Esfahan’s Mobarakeh Steel Company was inaugurated by President Khatami on 9 August 2003. Addressing the inaugural ceremony of the company’s tin plate production project, the President lauded the efforts of Iranian engineers, workers and specialists who work for the industrial prosperity of Iran noting that "the Esfahan’s Mobarakeh Steel Co. is among the valuable foci of production and industry."

Khatami added, "I think this is a great day for the country’s production and industry and what we saw at Esfahan’s Mobarakeh Steel Co. today increased our hopes for a better future."

In another part of his speech, the President addressed the company’s employees and said, "what is important here, in addition to the technology used and the efforts made by you and other endeared employees who are not here (engineers, researchers, workers, employers and employees), is the added value of the products. Since price difference between iron ore and tin plate is from $22 to $600, instead of exporting iron ore at $22, we decided to make a tin plate unit operational. The unit’s capacity is currently 103,000 tons and the figure is to reach 200,000 tons in the near future. In this way, the $22 becomes $600. Considering its added value, this investment will be returned in 2-3 years to become a major backup for the country’s economy."

The President mentioned 11.5% growth of the country’s industry as a sign of efforts made by the industrial sector and added, "Remarkable developments have been brought about in the field of industry, especially the steel industry, and we must take further steps for job creation and elimination of deprivation through developing downstream steel units."

He opined that Esfahan’s Mobarakeh Steel Co. was a good support for the country’s economy, adding that as a result of developmental plans, this complex and the whole of the Esfahan province would witness remarkable advancements in the near future.

Further in the ceremony, minister of industries and mines, Esshaq Jahangiri, stated that a great job done for developing steel sector was developing various units of Esfahan’s Mobarakeh Steel Co., which is supposed to increase its production capacity from 2.4 million tons to 4.2 million tons.

"The figure will increase to 5.5 million tons in further stages, which would decrease forex expenses to a large extent by relying on the country’s capabilities," he said.

Jahangiri emphasized that the steel industry was a competitive industry both inside the country and at an international level.

"We can compete with other producers by manufacturing high-quality products. I thank all the experts, managers and engineers of domestic steel industry, especially the staff of Esfahan’s Mobarakeh Steel Co. who are to make other projects operational in the near future," he concluded.

Also, addressing the inaugural ceremony, managing director of Esfahan’s Mobarakeh Steel Co., Mahmoud Eslamiyan stated that Iran was previously an importer of tin plates.

"About 180,000 tons of tin plates were imported last year (ended March 20, 2003), costing the country $100 million," he added.

The official said, "Today a high-tech industrial project has been inaugurated at Esfahan’s Mobarakeh Steel Co. and I hope we would be capable of meeting domestic demand for this product."

Eslamiyan stated that the complex has produced about 24 million tons of products worth $6.3 billion since 1993.

"The forex expenses of the complex stood at about $115 per ton in 1996. This figure was, however, reduced to $28 per ton last year. Considering the complex’s production, we have reduced forex expenses by about $250 million per year. For every $1 million reduction in forex expenses we can create jobs for 100-150 people," he noted.

During the ceremony, the President awarded 11 deputies, directors and executives of the tin plate factory with commendation plaques.

The Quran has mentioned iron as a means of promoting justice. Iron is the most commonly used metal in the world. In Iran, iron is considered a strategic industry because its employment coefficient is higher than 30. It enjoys a considerable share in gross domestic product. Iran’s enjoyment of the golden triangle of raw materials, energy and manpower has enabled its steel industry to grow and pose as an economic substitute for oil.

1. Meeting the needs of Iranian industries for steel sheets.

2. Indigenizing steel technology in Iran.

3. Transferring steel industry technology to subsidiary as well as upstream and downstream industries, and finally to whole industrial sector of Iran.

Esfahan’s Mobarakeh Steel Co. is located 65 km southwest of Esfahan over 35 sq. km. The complex has a nominal annual production capacity of 3.1 million tons of steel products with a thickness of 0.18-16 mm and above, which are manufactured as coil as well as rolled hot and cold steel sheets.

Esfahan’s Mobarakeh Steel Co., which enjoys the latest technological achievements of steel production industry as well as expert and specialized manpower, supplies its products in a customer-oriented manner to domestic and foreign markets. Its products include coils, hot and cold sheets, narrow band coils and slabs, which are manufactured according to international and national steel standards including EURONORM, JIS, DIN, ASTM, UNI, AFNOR, BS, SAE/AISI, API, ISIRI (national standard of Iran).

Products of Esfahan’s Mobarakeh Steel Co. meet the requirements of various industries including automobile, home appliances, pipe manufacturing, pressurized tanks, light and heavy metal equipment, etc.

Its products are exported to many countries in Europe, North America, Far East, Africa and the Persian Gulf, making Esfahan’s Mobarakeh Steel Co. a successful Iranian exporter.

Esfahan’s Mobarakeh Steel Co. has established a quality assurance, environmental management and other management systems to increase productivity and gain international trust. The complex has obtained 11 various awards during the past years.

Esfahan’s Mobarakeh Steel Co. enjoys one of the most advanced mechanized systems of industrial management and automation in the world.

Management systems of Esfahan’s Mobarakeh Steel Co. consist of ten subsystems including order registration, production planning, production control, technical and metallurgic control, sales, purchase and material management, accountancy and financial, manpower management, maintenance and repairs, and internal auditing.

Territorial promotion and development management of the complex, in addition to playing a basic role in dynamism of the country’s economy, has taken measures for developing its surroundings. These measures have various developmental, cultural, educational and environmental aspects including constructing roads, bridges, schools, health centers, conference centers, scientific and cultural centers as well as implementing water supply, watershed management plans, developing green coverage of the region and reviving rangelands.

Esfahan’s Mobarakeh Steel Co., P.O. Box: 84815-161 Esfahan, Iran. Tel: (+98 311) 3325325 Fax: (+98 311) 3324324 P. R. Tel: (+98 311) 3327327 P. R. Fax: (+98 311) 3327328 www.mobarakeh.com E-mail: info@mobarakeh-steel.com