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MOTORINDIA
l
August 2012
Indian steel output capacity
may double in five years
Archaeological finds in Mesopota-
mia and Egypt testify to the fact that
the use of iron and steel was known
to mankind for more than 6,000
years and that some of the best prod-
ucts were made in India.
Among the widely-known relics is
the Iron Pillar near Qutab Minor in
Delhi. This pillar, built between 350
and 380 AD, has not rusted so far, an
engineering marvel that baffles the
scientists even today. Yet another
engineering feat is the famous Sun
Temple at Konark in Orissa, built
around 1200 AD, where steel struc-
turals were used for the first time in
the world.
The origin of the modern iron and
steel industry in India dates back
to the pre-Independence era when
Tata Iron & Steel Co. Ltd. (TISCO),
now Tata Steel, was set up in 1907
at Jamshedpur. At the time of Inde-
pendence in 1947, the country had
three integrated steel plants and
a few electric arc furnace (EAF)-
based plants. Subsequently, several
large integrated steel
plants in the public
and private sector
were set up.
One of the remark-
able features of the
Indian steel industry
is the production of
a substantial quantity
of steel through the
Induction
Furnace
(IF) route. Typically
many
small-scale
manufacturers have
adopted this route for
the low level of in-
vestment involved.
The Indian iron and
steel industry, with
AUTO INDUSTRY
The history of steel-making in India can be traced back to 400 BC when
the Greek emperors used to recruit Indian archers for their army who
used arrows tipped with steel. History is replete with evidence of ad-
vanced knowledge of iron and steel making in India long before the ad-
vent of Christ.
Auto sector remains the major beneficiary