Major Industries

Manufacturing of Steel

• Materials Used:

  • 8 tonnes of coal

  • 4 tonnes of iron ore

  • 1 tonne of limestone

  • 1 tonne of steel

• Properties of Steel:

  • Tough, easily shaped, and can be converted into wire.

  • Alloys created with metals like aluminum and nickel enhance hardness, toughness, and rust resistance.

• Importance of Steel:

  • Backbone of modern industry; used in ships, transport, machinery, and construction.

• Location of Iron and Steel Industry:

  • Initially near raw materials and power sources.

  • Shifted to locations near coal fields and transport systems (1800-1950).

  • Expanded to seaports (since 1950) for large-scale operations.

• Development in India:

  • Focus on local resources: raw materials, cheap labor, market access.

  • Major centers in West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh.

  • TISCO, established in 1907, was India's first plant.

  • Post-independence, several new steel plants were established.

• Jamshedpur:

  • Key location for steel with access to resources and markets.

  • Industrial growth followed TISCO's establishment.

• Global Context - Pittsburgh, USA:

  • Strategic location with coal and imported iron ore.

  • Steel mills moved to river valleys for better logistics.

• Overview of Global Industries:

  • Major older industries include Iron and Steel; emerging industry is IT.

  • Locations: Iron and Steel in USA, China, Germany; IT in Silicon Valley and Bangalore.