| 1961 |
• National
Iron & Steel Mills Ltd (NISM) was incorporated on 12 August
as a public company.
• NISM’s primary objective
was to manufacture, export and trade in iron and steel products
for the construction industry in Singapore, Malaysia and the
region. |
| 1963 |
• Meltshop started trial
production.
• Test runs conducted on the rolling and
re-rolling mills.
• A Public Issue was oversubscribed
by 21 times. |
| 1964 |
• NISM officially opened
on 31 January. |
| 1968 |
• Factory site increased
by 198,375 square feet. |
| 1971 |
• The third electric arc
furnace commenced operations.
• NISM’s total
output capacity from three arc furnaces and two induction furnaces
was approximately 220,000 tonnes per year. |
| 1980 |
• The automatic bar bundling
machine was introduced to replace manual methods of bundling
finished bars.
• Automation improved manpower utilisation
and enhanced the company’s competitive position. |
| 1981 |
• Two 20-tonne cranes were installed
at Jurong Port to load and offload our products.
•
Reduced discharge time by 50 percent.
• A 1,250-tonne
scrap shear was commissioned. |
| 1983 |
• The head office, called the GMO
building, was built at a cost of $3.9 million. |
| 1984 |
• MBM5 — a $45 million high-speed
and automated wire rod mill was commissioned to produce reinforcement
bars and wire rods. |
| 1985 |
• The Meltshop computer system was
commissioned to enable better process control of steel chemistry,
alloy consumption, manpower and energy.
• A new ladle
furnace was commissioned to enhance secondary steel refining
and production of higher quality steel grades. |
| 1986 |
• The Business Development Unit was
established to explore new engines of growth. |
| 1988 |
• The Research and Development Unit
was set up to conduct applied research in engineering processing,
automation and application of new materials. |
| 1989 |
• A $9 million revamp of Continuous
Casting Machine 1 and 2 was carried out to modify and enhance
engineering and production capabilities. |
| 1990 |
• NISM changed its name to NatSteel
Ltd. |
| 1993 |
• A 55-tonne Vacuum Oxygen Decarburisation
furnace and station was installed to allow further refinement
and production of high quality speciality steel. |
| 1994 |
• A radiation detection system to
screen all incoming scrap material for radioactive contamination
was launched.
• Water utilisation in production processes
was optimised. |
| 1997 |
• A new 80-tonne
Electric Arc Furnace was commissioned as part of the restructuring efforts to
improve productivity and cost management. |
| 1998 |
• The YESS system was launched. It
offers real-time information for customers to monitor their
projects and improve site management and productivity. |
| 2000 |
• A real-time training application
system was launched. It allows employees to apply for training
courses and review courses electronically. |
| 2001 |
• The NatSteel group was bought over
by 98 Holdings. |
| 2003 |
• A new e-leave system was introduced
so that all employees can view their leave records and apply
for leave on-line. |
| 2004 |
• NatSteel Asia Pte Ltd was
incorporated and the steel business was later transferred to it.
• A new improved Performance Management
System was introduced. It enables staff’s training plans
to be better aligned with business goals and needs.
•
The Prosoft eTraining System was launched, a more comprehensive
online platform to facilitate the staff development process. |
| 2005 |
• Partnership between NatSteel Asia and
Tata Steel was sealed. |
| 2006 |
•
NatSteel Asia's
Vision, Mission, Values and Strategies were launched.
• A sidewall oxygen lance and carbon injection system was
successfully installed in the Meltshop's electric arc furnace,
enabling a reduction in production cost.
• NatSteel Asia's merchant bar mill achieved a resounding
tonnage of 61,695mt – the greatest monthly figure wince the mill
was installed in 1984.
• NatSteel Asia embarked on its business excellence journey with
the Tata Business Excellence Model.
• An annualised saving of $16 million was reached through the
Total Operational Performance programme. |
| 2007 |
• NatSteel
Asia launched its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
programme, dubbed 'Building Beyond Borders', with a pledge of
S$1 million over the next three years to community initiatives
at its first-ever Golf Challenge. |
| 2008 |
• As part of
an internal restructuring exercise, the entire business of
NatSteel Asia Pte Ltd was transferred to NatSteel Holdings Pte
Ltd. |
|
| 1966 |
• NISM and
Pioneer Industries Employees’ Union signed a three-year
Collective Agreement. |
| 1969 |
• The above agreement was
extended by another five years. |
| 1971 |
• A Works Council was formed
to promote better understanding between the company and employees,
to enhance productivity and quality standards.
• A
second fume extractor was installed following the first in 1971
to further reduce atmospheric pollution and improve working
conditions in the factory. |
| 1973 |
• The National Iron Foundation
was incorporated to provide endowments and grant scholarships
to deserving students.
• The Sports & Recreation
Club was formed to improve welfare and recreational amenities
for employees. |
| 1984 |
• The NISM Employees Union (NISMEU)
and the Occupational Health Unit were established to improve
the well-being of workers. |
| 1992 |
• A pollution control system was installed
to reduce dust emission. |
| 1993 |
• A new complex was opened to provide
workers with improved amenities such as an air-conditioned canteen
and a social & recreational lounge.
• Trees were
planted around the steel plant to beautify the environment for
workers.
• Mini aquariums were set up in the various
production centres for workers’ enjoyment.
•
Catastrophic medical insurance introduced for staff on a 50-50
co-share basis between the employee and the company. |
| 2004 |
• A new collective agreement was signed between the
company and the NatSteel Employees Union, providing improved
benefits for workers.
• The Sports and Recreation
Club House was renovated and reopened. |
| 2005 |
• Major retrofitting work was carried out on the fume
extractor system as part of our ongoing maintenance and
upgrading exercise. |
| 2007 |
• With the new collective agreement signed between
NatSteel Asia and the NatSteel Employees Union, the age ceiling for post-retirement
employment contracts was extended to 65 years. |
| 2008 |
• Another collective agreement was signed between NatSteel
Asia's downstream operations and the Metal Industries Workers'
Union. |
|
| 1983 |
• NTUC awarded the
plaque of commendation in recognition of harmonious labour-management relations and high productivity. |
| 1989 |
• The Japan Industrial Standards Authority
gave the JIS Mark Award. |
| 1992 |
• ISO 9002 certification. |
| 1996 |
• Achieved the National IT
Award for large scale use of information technology in managing
business and manufacturing operations. |
| 2000 |
• The first mini mill in the world
to achieve the ISO 14001 certification in recognition of international standards of environmental management and
best practices during the manufacture of steel products. |
| 2001 |
• The People Developer
Standard, a national recognition for quality people development
practices. |
| 2003 |
• The ISO 9001 and OHSAS 18001 certifications for our quality management system,
and good environment, safety and health programmes.
•
External auditors verified that the Safety Management System
meets the Ministry of Manpower’s requirements.
•
The Singapore Health Award (Silver) for
our excellent workplace health initiatives. |
| 2004 |
• The Singapore Family
Friendly Employer Award and the Singapore Health Award (Gold)
for family-friendly policies and excellent healthcare for staff.
• Two golds, three silvers and one bronze
at the National Innovative Quality Circle Convention. |
| 2005 |
• NatSteel Asia won the Singapore
Health Award (Gold).
• Our staff won four golds, six silvers and one bronze
at the National In-house Innovative Quality Circle Convention. |
| 2006 |
•
NatSteel Asia achieved three prestigious awards: the People
Developer Standard, Singapore Health Award and Work-Life
Excellence Award.
• NatFerrous, a subsidiary of NatSteel Asia, won the Fastest
Growing 50 Award for being ranked amongst the top 50
fastest-growing companies in Singapore. |
| 2007 |
•
NatSteel Asia was awarded the UK CARES, BS 4449:2005 and BS
4449:1997 (Grade B500B and 460B Bar) certifications for our
reinforcement bars. |
| 2008 |
•
Work-Life Excellence Award for the third time running since 2004 |
|
