Llanwern steelworks facts for kids
The Llanwern steelworks is a large industrial site. It is located in Llanwern, a place east of the city of Newport in South Wales. This site has played a big part in making steel for many years.
Contents
The Story of Llanwern Steelworks
Building a Modern Steel Plant
The steelworks was built for a company called Richard Thomas & Baldwins Ltd. People in the area first called it "The RTB." Later, it became known as Spencer Works, and then Llanwern. It was built right next to the South Wales Main Line. This railway line was perfect for moving materials and finished steel.
New Ways to Make Steel
When it opened in 1962, Llanwern was very modern. It was the first steelworks in Britain to use a special method called oxygen-blown steelmaking. This made steel faster and more efficiently. The plant also used computers to control its hot strip mill. This was a new and exciting step for the steel industry.
Changes Over Time
In the 1990s, Llanwern became a very important hot strip mill for British Steel. However, in 2001, the actual making of new steel stopped at the site. This meant about 1,300 jobs were lost. Instead, hot steel slabs were brought in by train from the Port Talbot steelworks. The older parts of the Llanwern works were taken down in 2004.
Challenges and Reopening
In 2009, the company Corus paused operations at the hot strip mill. This led to over 500 job losses. But later that year, the mill started working again. In 2011, the mill was paused once more due to economic problems in Europe. It was planned to reopen in late 2012.
Llanwern Today: Tata Steel Operations
What Happens Now at the Works?
Today, Tata runs the Llanwern site. They have several important operations there. These include a pickle line, which cleans the steel. There is also a cold strip mill, which makes the steel thinner and stronger. Other parts include a hot dip galvanising line and an automotive finishing line (AFL).
Steel for Many Uses
The Llanwern works processes about 1.5 million tonnes of steel coil each year. This steel is used for many different things. It goes into making cars, building new structures, and various other engineering projects.
Transforming the Area: Regeneration Projects
The Glan Llyn Development
A big project called Glan Llyn is changing the former steel-producing part of the site. This project started in 2004. It aims to create a new community. The plan includes building 1.5 million square feet of space for businesses. This could create 6,000 new jobs.
New Homes and Community Spaces
The Glan Llyn project also plans for 4,000 new homes. It will have community facilities like schools and shops. There will also be open spaces, including three new lakes. The entire project is expected to be finished around 2026–2028.
New Factories Nearby
In 2017, a Spanish company called Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF) announced plans. They opened a factory at Celtic Business Park, which is close to the steelworks. This factory builds trains, mainly for use in the UK, including for Transport for Wales.
