Gerdau CEO Named Steelmaker of the Year at AISTech 2012
05/09/2012 - Gerdau CEO André B. Gerdau Johannpeter was named Steelmaker of the Year at AISTech 2012 — The Iron & Steel Technology Conference and Exposition, managed by the Association for Iron & Steel Technology. Winners for a number of other prestigious awards were also announced during the Conference’s annual President’s Award Breakfast.
Gerdau Chief Executive Officer André B. Gerdau Johannpeter was named Steelmaker of the Year at AISTech 2012 — The Iron & Steel Technology Conference and Exposition, managed by the Association for Iron & Steel Technology (AIST).
AIST presents the Steelmaker of the Year Award annually to recognize notable leaders and their contributions to the steel industry. Johannpeter received the award during the conference’s annual President’s Award Breakfast, in recognition of his entrepreneurial spirit, visionary leadership, support of research, and steadfast commitment to improving the steel industry and the global supply of steel products.
“It’s a great honor to be here receiving this award,” said Johannpeter in accepting the award. “When receiving an award, it’s a good time to reflect. It’s a sign you are moving in the right direction. I wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for the Gerdau team of more than 45,000 all over the world.”
Other award winners announced during the President’s Award Breakfast included:
AIST Distinguished Member and Fellow Awards — Established in 1975, the Distinguished Member and Fellow Award is presented to an AIST member who has attained eminent distinction in advancing the technical development, production, processing and application of iron and steel and/or related activities of the industry and has performed meritorious service to the association. This year’s Distinguished Member and Fellows Awards included:
John R. Bell, deceased, former Executive Vice President and General Manager — Operations, Severstal Columbus, Columbus, Miss. Bell received this honor for his passion, exceptional leadership, dedication and vast knowledge; his example has inspired colleagues in the steel industry to excel.
Charleen Bell, John R. Bell’s wife, accepted the award on his behalf. “John was very passionate about the steel industry, and I know that he would be very proud and humbled to accept this award,” said Charleen,
Terry Fedor Sr., Senior Products Engineer, Morgan Engineering Systems, Alliance, Ohio. Fedor received this honor for 56 years of passionate service to the steel industry, including 35 years of dedication to AIST’s Crane and Ladle Technology Committees and Mill Buildings Subcommittee, and for his excellence in teaching and mentoring young engineers.
While accepting the award, Fedor thanked the Board of Directors and members of the Mill Buildings Subcommittee of the Cranes Technology Committee.
Ronald J. O’Malley, Plant Metallurgist, Nucor Steel – Decatur LLC, Madison, Ala. O’Malley received this honor for his work in developing new casting technologies, while passionately engaging those around him, including professionals and students alike, and for his exceptional leadership and service to AIST.
While accepting the award, O’Malley thanked his Nucor teammates for support and participation in AIST, the casting subcommittee and the AIST staff for making it look easy. He also thanked his wife, son and his colleagues for making his career enjoyable.
John G. Speer, Professor, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colo. Speer received this honor for his outstanding contributions to the field of ferrous physical metallurgy through extensive industry research, quality teaching and mentoring for students, and dedicated service to AIST at all levels of the association.
While accepting the award, Speer said, “AIST is a very special community, so being a fellow means a lot to me.” Speer also thanked the students and faculty members at Colorado School of Mines.
AIST William T. Hogan, S.J. Lecture Award — Established in 1990, this honorary lecturer is selected in recognition of individual outstanding leadership to the iron and steel industry, with selected lectures covering trade, economics, steel industry operations, developments or forecasts. This award is given in appreciation of the keynote lecture presented during AISTech President’s Award Breakfast.
This year’s award was presented to Joseph Alvarado, President and CEO, Commercial Metals Company, Irving, Texas. Alvarado’s keynote presentation was entitled, “The Light at the End of the Tunnel.”
While accepting the award, Alvarado said, “It’s an honor to receive this award and be asked to speak to this distinguished group of individuals.”
AIST Tadeusz Sendzimir Memorial Medal — This distinguished award was established in 1990 to perpetuate the memory of Dr. Tadeusz Sendzimir’s achievements and engineering contributions in developing process equipment for the steel industry. The award is presented in recognition of an individual who has advanced steelmaking through the invention, development or application of new manufacturing processes or equipment.
This year’s Tadeusz Sendzimir Memorial Medal was presented to James T. Shapland, retired, Flow-Con Systems Inc., Champaign, Ill. Shapland received this honor for his work in 1969 to develop the slidegate system (originally patented in 1885) into a commercially available tool for efficient flow control of molten steel. As a result of his exceptional contribution, virtually all ladles and most tundishes in the steel industry today are outfitted with slidegate systems.
Brimacombe Memorial Lecture — This award was established in 1999 to honor Dr. J. Keith Brimacombe’s outstanding accomplishments in the area of process metallurgy, his dedication to the steel industry and his profound effect on people in the industry. The award is granted in recognition of an individual dedicated to the steel industry to acquaint members, students and engineers with the many exciting opportunities that exist in the area of process metallurgy and to inspire them to pursue careers in this field.
This year’s Brimacombe Memorial Lecture Award was presented to Alan W. Cramb, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, The Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, Ill. Cramb’s lecture was entitled, “Steel Research — Then, Now and Tomorrow.”
John F. Elliott Lectureship Award — Established in 1990, this honorary lectureship is designed to acquaint students and engineers with the exciting opportunities in chemical process metallurgy and materials chemistry. This lecturer is selected in recognition of distinguished contributions in chemical process metallurgy and materials chemistry to the iron and steel industry.
This year’s John F. Elliott Lectureship Award was presented to Lauri E.K. Holappa, Professor — Metallurgy, Helsinki University of Technology, Finland. Prof. Holappa will present a lecture, “Recent Advances and Challenges of Chemical Process Metallurgy,” at three to five universities throughout the coming year.
Benjamin F. Fairless Award (AIME) — This award was established in 1954 in honor of Benjamin F. Fairless, Chairman of the Board of the United States Steel Corp., for his intense interest in the technology and development of the iron and steel industry. This award recognizes distinguished achievement in iron and steel production and ferrous metallurgy.
This year’s Benjamin F. Fairless Award was presented to Ronald J. O’Malley, Plant Metallurgist, Nucor Steel – Decatur LLC, Madison, Ala. O’Malley was selected for this award for advancing the understanding of steel quality in continuous casting by serving as a mentor and teacher to all levels of the steel industry. His many years as a presenter at AIST training seminars have helped to ensure a strong and capable workforce.
This year’s Benjamin F. Fairless Award was presented to Ronald J. O’Malley, Plant Metallurgist, Nucor Steel – Decatur LLC, Madison, Ala. O’Malley was selected for this award for advancing the understanding of steel quality in continuous casting by serving as a mentor and teacher to all levels of the steel industry. His many years as a presenter at AIST training seminars have helped to ensure a strong and capable workforce.
Hunt-Kelly Outstanding Paper Award (AIME) — This award recognizes the author(s) of the best published paper of the previous year: $5,000 for first place, $2,500 for second place and $1,000 for third place. This year’s Hunt-Kelly Outstanding Paper Award recipients include:
· First Place — Sunday Abraham, Shaojie Chen, James Asante, Colin D’Souza, Aaron Cook, Geoffrey Franco, Kendal S. Dunnett and Shahrooz Nafisi. These authors were selected to receive this year’s honor for their paper entitled, “Hydrogen and Nitrogen Control and Breakout Warning Model for Casting Non-Degassed Steel.”
· Second Place — Bruce R. Forman, Jeff A. Thacker, Mehmet M. Yavuz and Thomas H. Tsai. These authors were selected to receive this award for their paper entitled, “Optimization of a Submerged Entry Nozzle Design to Reduce Non-Metallic Inclusions in Line Pipe Steel.”
· Third Place — Yun Li, Alexander Monson, Justin K. Novotny and Robert R. Rote. These authors were selected to receive this award for their paper entitled, “Quick Direct Tap at United States Steel Corporation’s Gary Works Q-BOP Shop.”
AISTech 2012 was one of the largest gatherings of industry personnel in the world this year, with more than 5,200 people attending. The four-day conference program featured more than 400 technical presentations, and exhibits by more than 400 domestic and international companies.
AIST is an international technical association of more than 14,400 professional and student members, representing iron and steel producers, their allied suppliers and related academia. The association is dedicated to advancing the technical development, production, processing and application of iron and steel.
