Metallurgy is strength and glory of Urals industry. Urals metallurgic engineering is 300 years old, its development began with the famous Demidov’s plants, and the most significant for Chelyabinsk region metallurgic enterprises appeared during the last century – celebrated Magnitka (Magnitogorsk), Chelyabinsk Iron and Steel Works and Chelyabinsk Tube Rolling Plant which were founded during the years of the Great Patriotic War, and many others.
There are all conditions for successful development of metallurgic enterprises in the region –great scientific and industrial potential which provides the opportunity to manufacture all product range, experienced staff, and demand for products of the metallurgic complex in home and outer markets. These factors allow metallurgic engineers to increase production volume. In 2005 increase of output in metallurgy industry has been 102.9% in comparison with 2004, and in the first half-year of 2006 -- 109%.
Nowadays about 50% of regional industrial funds and 30% of the region’s industrial personnel are concentrated in the metallurgic complex. Metallurgic enterprises pay almost 30% of all taxes in Chelyabinsk region.
Metallurgic complex of Chelyabinsk region numbers more than 50 large and medium-sized enterprises; the most significant of them are OAO (OJSC) Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works, OAO (OJSC) Chelyabinsk Iron and Steel Works, OAO (OJSC) Chelyabinsk Tube Rolling Plant, OAO (OJSC) Chelyabinsk Electro-Metallurgic Plant, OAO (OJSC) Asha Metallurgic Plant and others – in ferrous metallurgy; OAO (OJSC) Chelyabinsk Zinc Ore Roasting Plant, ZAO (CJSC) Kyshtym Electrolytic Copper Plant, OAO “UfaleyNikel” (OJSC “UfaleyNickel”), ZAO “Karabashmed” (Karabash Copper) – in non-ferrous metallurgy.
Metallurgic enterprises of the region manufacture a wide range of rolled products made of steel and special alloys – corrosion, rapid steel, structural steel, - hot and cold-rolled sheet, strip material, joist webs, galvanized sheet, tinplate, tubes, ferroalloy and refractory products.
To be able to take part in competition in the world market and sort out important industrial problems metallurgic enterprises of the South Urals search for integration, consolidation of assets in the regional industry. In 2002-2003 MMK Group, OAO Mechel, CHTPZ Group were founded on the basis of enterprises of Chelyabinsk region. Co-operation of enterprises leads to increase of managerial efficiency, optimization of industrial process, accumulation of investment resources for implementation of big projects that provide a quicker and maximal benefit.