Dale Richard Perelman - Road to Rust: The Disintegration of the Steel Industry in Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio

AFTERWORD

Today, steelmaking involves increased productivity from a smaller workforce. At one time, it took up to ten man-hours to produce one ton of steel. Now, a ton can be produced in as little as fifteen minutes in some plants as a result of technological advancements. When I recently toured the Ellwood Group facilities, I viewed electric-arc furnaces pouring boiling steel into massive ladles and giant presses pounding out multi-ton beams. A handful of highly skilled workers manning sophisticated computer stations controlled the processes. Unfortunately, most of the equipment utilized had been manufactured overseas. The United States never again will employ and support the large numbers of steelworkers as in the past, but the industry itself must remain an important cog in our countrys economy.

Modern steel making relies on technology plus a cooperative and highly trained labor force. Courtesy of Ellwood Quality Steel.

The electric arc furnace requires less manpower per ton than the Bessemer or open hearth processes and produces a far better product. Courtesy of Ellwood Quality Steel.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dale Richard Perelman has written several books, including Mountain of Light: The Story of the Koh-I-Noor Diamond; The Regent: The Story of the Regent Diamond; Centenarians: One Hundred 100-Year-Olds Who Made a Difference; Steel: The Story of Pittsburghs Iron and Steel Industry, 18521902; and The Scottish Rite Cathedral (coauthored with Rob Cummings.) Mr. Perelman holds a bachelor of arts degree in English literature from Brown University, an MBA in industrial relations from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a graduate gemologist designation from the Gemological Institute of America.

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