Jacob W. Lenart – 2020 Steel Intern Scholar
This summer I had the opportunity to return to ArcelorMittal in Shelby, Ohio, USA. This was my third semester working there as a plant engineering intern, and there are countless projects I have had the pleasure to work on. I was fortunate enough to be able to work on designing a conveyor system from scratch this summer.
I worked under a plant engineer that was associated with the finishing side of the process. The current conveyor has issues pulling larger and longer tubing out of the straightener. To remedy this, I developed a roll and lift system that would pivot out of the way when not being used. The rolls would carry the tube down the line before kickers would transfer it to another table. This was at first a daunting task, as I was the sole designer on this project. The project had many situations to learn from and zero in on my skills as a mechanical engineer. One major feature of my design is safety. At ArcelorMittal in Shelby, safety is always 
their number one priority. I ensured that the conveyor system was safe to operate and maintain. An example of this is my development on a lockout system that would mechanically lock the pivots from moving up or down during maintenance work.
I am blessed to be able to have the opportunities that I did. Overall, I had a tremendous experience and learned a ton. One thing I will miss about the place is the people. ArcelorMittal Shelby employs many fantastic operators, engineers and maintenance that I have had the pleasure of working with. The communication and technical skills I gained throughout my experience will accelerate my career. I would like to sincerely thank both the AIST Foundation and ArcelorMittal Shelby for providing me with this chance to expand my experience before graduation. I expect to graduate in May 2021 to start a career in the steel industry.