With more than one hundred years old, the steel industry in Colombia remains in force and increasingly renewed. To the point where today it has become the same as progress and opportunities.
According to the Colombian Committee of Steel Producers, in 2021 more than three million tons of steel were manufactured, between crude (1,338,234) and long steel (1,663,194). An input that has been essential to boost the economy, generate employment and contribute to the country's growth.
In 1920 the first iron deposits were discovered in Colombia and, likewise, the first forge appeared. Since then, the changes that steel has promoted are countless: airports, stadiums, roads, skyscrapers, and other works were possible thanks to this metal.
But steel not only stands out in the creation of architectural works, but it is also essential for the automotive, mechanical, electrical, appliance and transportation sectors. In Colombia, its production has focused on some specific fields, which we present below:
Construction
A large percentage of the steel made in the country is destined for this sector. Tons of this metal are responsible for keeping buildings firm and safe for their occupants. For example, according to data from the National Association of Colombian Entrepreneurs (ANDI), the Pablo Tobón Uribe Hospital in Medellín used 4,380 tons of steel in its structure.
The infrastructure of roads and ports
The quality and durability of steel make it essential to achieve reliable infrastructure works that resist use and the passage of time. For this reason, bridges, tunnels, roads, transport terminals, and airports use it.
To build El Dorado Airport in Bogotá, 2,500 tons of steel were needed, and for the second section of the road from Bogotá to Villavicencio, made up of 4 tunnels and 10 bridges, around 35,000 tons were used, according to ANDI data.
Energy Infrastructure
Steel is essential for the entire energy production cycle, from hydroelectric plants to wind and oil fields. The quality of this metal makes it perform optimally in conditions where other materials might fail.
Did you know that steel tubes can withstand temperatures between 400ºC and -40ºC with a useful life of up to 50 years? That is why energy meters, cables, transformers, turbines, towers, and other components of the energy infrastructure are manufactured from the alloy between iron and carbon.
Vehicles
It does not matter if they are land, air, sea, or river, steel is present in different forms in all vehicles. Hence, this material is key to the development of the industry.
Due to its malleability, versatility, and solidity, it is used in the automotive sector to create safer and increasingly lighter designs that allow the weight of vehicles to be reduced and their performance to be increased.
With the development of Advanced High Strength Steels (AHSS), the industry has managed to improve its standards, without substantially increasing the cost of final products.
Both hot and cold rolled steels are ideal for automotive assembly.
Production of household appliances
Possibly, in each kitchen, there are several kilos of steel, as this is a widely used material for the manufacture of appliances of the most diverse sizes, from refrigerators to small processors. In addition, thanks to its anti-corrosion properties, the products have a longer useful life.
The fast-food business also takes advantage of the benefits of this material, as carts, griddles, and fryers offer better performance due to steel.
Infrastructure in Health
It’s important to highlight the role that steel has played during the COVID-19 pandemic. Its qualities have facilitated the adaptation of spaces for medical care, isolation, and vaccination.
Modular constructions and even booths made of this metal have been of vital importance in dealing with the pandemic.
In Ternium we are fully aware of the value of steel for the country, and we work hard to continue generating value and promoting the growth of the industry in the territories. With that goal in mind, we developed the following materials for the aforementioned sectors.