Company

2011

25 January – In Luxemburg, the Extraordinary General Meeting of ArcelorMittal shareholders approves the spin-off of ArcelorMittal’s stainless segment. The date officially establishes the creation of Aperam, an independent Company focusing exclusively on the stainless and specialties segments. This new Company is intended to be more agile, ingenious and flexible, according to specific demands of customers, challenging the status quo and developing sustainable solutions and new standards to the industry.

In September 2011, Aperam South America received, for the second consecutive year, the award Best Companies to Work For, organized by magazines Guia Você S/A – Exame, in partnership with Fundação Instituto de Administração (FIA).

On 15 September 2011, Aperam South America inaugurated the conversion project of Blast Furnace 2, one of the largest furnaces in the world to operate with charcoal for the production of pig iron, with annual capacity of 445 thousand tons. The investment on the Charcoal Project was approximately US$ 95 million. From this amount, US$ 60 million were destined to Aperam Bioenergia to complete the planting of eucalyptus forests, the construction of 142 carbonization kilns, the modernization of machinery and actions benefitting the community and environment.

At the end of 2011, Aperam was elected one of the 21 model companies in sustainability, according to Guia Exame of Sustainability 2011. The survey awards the companies with the best sustainability practices in the country, and it uses a strict assessment process which takes into consideration the performance of organizations in the social, economical and environmental dimensions.

2010

In 2010, the Company was chosen by magazine Guia Você S/A – Exame, published by Editora Abril, to be among the 150 Best Companies to Work For in the country. Moreover, the Company received the distinction award in the health area for the ensemble of actions it developed; the best company in the metallurgy and steel sector – scoring 84.8 in the Happiness at Work Index (HWI) – and the fifth among all applicant organizations with more than 1,501 professionals.

08 December– The Management Committee of ArcelorMittal announces the spin-off of the stainless business from the Group.

16 December– The stainless steel division of ArcelorMittal publishes its European prospect and separation plan, proceeding with decision of ArcelorMittal Management Committee to promote the spin-off of Stainless Business. The Company’s new name is also announced and as of the spin-off date it will be Aperam.

2009

The Company celebrates 65 years of history, always in motion, present in the people's lives and in the construction of the country.

The year of 2009 was marked by the celebration of 15 years of existence of Aperam Acesita Foundation, created in 1994.

The brand KARA was launched in 2009, as a way of identifying ArcelorMittal ferritic stainless steels. KARA allies the traditional stainless steel advantages to other specific properties such as corrosion resistance under tension, high temperature oxidation resistance, low heat expansion and good drawability.

ArcelorMittal Sumaré was established in 2009 and is responsible for the entire tube production to supply the Brazilian automobile sector. Installed in an area of 4.4 thousand square meters, the unit comprises eight tube cut-to-length machines in addition to material handling equipment, such as overhead crane and lift truck. The unit's processing capacity is 20 thousand tons of tubes and 18 million cuts per year.

2008

ArcelorMittal carries out the expansion and modernization of the electrical steels line, increasing GO production to 60 thousand tons per year and NGO production to 242 thousand tons per year.

In 2008, the Company is certified by OHSAS 18001, which ensures its compliance with health and safety international standards.

ArcelorMittal Caxias do Sul Services - Stainless and Electrical Steels - is established. With a total area of 79 thousand square meters, the unit offers coil edge trimming services as well as stainless, electrical and carbon coil slitting, plate and blank cuts - according to customer's request for each application and using stainless, electrical or carbon steels. The products are intended to capital goods, electrical-electronics, cutlery tubes and civil construction sectors, among others.

2007

Worldwide launching of ArcelorMittal brand on May 29th in Cannes (France). On September 20th, the CEO of the Group, Lakshmi Mittal, visits Timóteo's industrial plant and unveils the memorial in front of the Research Center.

With global integration, Acesita is now called ArcelorMittal Stainless Brazil, also changing its logo (which is unique for all companies in the Group worldwide). The other units, such as Service Centers, Energética, Foundation, etc., follow international guidelines.

In 'Relevant Fact', released on December 4th, the controlling partner of ArcelorMittal announces the intention to launch a takeover bid for all shares issued by ArcelorMittal Stainless Brazil that are free in the market.

2006

Acquisition of a service center in Campinas (São Paulo state), thus completing one of the Organization's Strategic Planning phases, which forecasts expanding its operations in Brazil and abroad for both distribution and in service with higher added value.



The Company invests R$ 112 million in modernization and production capacity increase, including GO electrical/silicon steel. Among the improvements carried out, a highlight to Blast Furnace 1, with the Dedusting System, which significantly reduces the environmental impact of the equipment.

2005

The Company deploys a series of innovations in its management model aiming at ensuring the development of its business in the long term, regardless the macroeconomic environment. The Plant's flexibility is a great competitive advantage and minimizes risk against sales volatility. Such flexibility allows the Company to compose its product mix according to the market's demand and opportunities.

Three great successful programmed interventions take place: the modernization of Blast Furnaces 1 and 2, and the maintenance of Hot Strip Mill. The greatest intervention of all, Blast Furnace 2, increased the equipment nominal capacity from 1,350 ton/day to 1,500 ton/day with zero accident.

The Management Committee approves an investment of R$ 95 million to increase the Electrical Steel Cold Rolling capacity. In the same year, the Company consolidated new important export routes, supporting business development to more profitable and stable markets (NAFTA - USA, Canada and Mexico, Central Europe and Eastern Europe.

Important long-term contracts are signed for the supply of major raw materials consumed by the Company, including nickel and natural gas. And the Company significantly advances towards the consolidation of synergy with the ArcelorMittal Group and ArcelorMittal Brazil.

Entra em operação o Portal de Compras nas áreas de materiais de manutenção e operação, proporcionando agilidade na troca de informações entre a Empresa e fornecedores, com ganhos de produtividade.

The Purchasing Portal for maintenance and operation materials starts operation providing agility in the exchange of information between the Company and suppliers, with productivity gains.

2004

The Company turns 60, the forestry unit in Jequitinhonha Valley turns 30 and Aperam Acesita Foundation, 10.

2003

Great quality improvement in the production of stainless steel 430 series and production speeding up at the hot strip mill (HSM).

Renewal of certifications on standards ISO 9001, 2000; ISO/TS 16949, 2002 and ISO 14001.

QCC turns 20. The QCC groups were responsible for the implementation of 4,715 projects related to process improvement in several areas of the Company.

2002

Completion of the strategic investment program that was initiated in 2001, which enables the desired configuration of the Plant with the elimination of limitations to the increase of stainless steel production volumes, the phasing out of long products and the achievement of wide operation flexibility.