OREANDA-NEWS. April 29, 2008. In former days, metallurgists working at ESPTs-3 were called “steelmakers in white robes” (like scientists in laboratories). There is a certain grain of truth in it: the workshop had the state-of-art equipment and manufacturing practices greatly differed from customary methods of steel production.

Vacuum steelmaking and electroslag remelting guaranteed high quality of steel used for the areas of excessive metallurgical load, or in extremely corrosive media. The steel was used in such strategic spheres of national economy as aviation and space technologies, and nuclear industry. Alloyed steel was used to manufacture medical, in particular, surgical instruments. Moreover, ECPTs-3 received non-standard exclusive steelmaking orders, which were expressed not in usual tons, but in hundreds of kilograms – a kind of goldsmith’s production.

This is mainly to the workshops such as ESPTs-3 that allowed Zlatoust metallurgic plant to hold leading positions in making special steel grades and alloys in Russia. In fact, there are few such enterprises in Russia – and these were they which shaped technological progress in the country.

Obviously, such production required highly qualified personnel, a real professional elite. That is why it was not at all unusual that engineers with university degrees worked at common work stations at ESPTs-3, rather on contrary – this was a strict requirement.

Over 40 years the workshop had its ups and downs. During perestroika ESPTs-3 was almost shut down. But the plant’s and workshop’s management made every endeavour to preserve unique production, which starts to rally from its manufacturing coma and gains momentum. The plant managed not only to preserve equipment, but it still requires seasoned highly qualified personnel.

To celebrate its 40th anniversary, the workshop invited its veterans, many of whom wanted to visit their workplaces. A dinner was served in the workshop canteen. But what is more important is that people who advocated for collectivism and mutual aid at work could meet and enjoy sharing and communication.