The Minimill Story

In our efforts to characterize and improve the performance of an existing steelmaking process or in our quest to generate useful knowledge as a basis for the development of new manufacturing routes, measurements and models should be considered as two interdependent requirements. Without measurements, our models are incomplete and unsatisfactory. Without models, we fail to realize, or perhaps even comprehend, the potential significance of our measurements. Sometimes in our enthusiasm, we construct sophisticated elegant models and forget the reality of the actual manufacturing process. In this computer age, we need to remember again the importance of observations and accurate measurements. In addition, as engineers and applied scientists, we have an obligation and a responsibility to facilitate the transfer of new knowledge into the realm of operating practice. During this process of generation, evaluation, and communication of new knowledge, the knowledge exchange step is perhaps the most difficult. In this context, the preeminent aim of collaborative activities between our educational institutions, industrial organizations, government funding agencies, and professional societies is to ensure the availability of high-quality people who not only understand the fundamental aspects and practical implications of their discipline, but also are fully equipped with the essential skills of communication that will enable them to participate throughout their career in this most challenging and satisfying activity, the science and technology of steelmaking. The Brimacombe Memorial Lectureship was established in 1999 by the Process Technology Division of the Iron & Steel Society 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; and also 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. John Stubbles was educated in England, receiving a B.Sc. (1^st Class Hons.) in metallurgy from the University of Manchester in 1954 and a Ph.D. in Extractive Metallurgy from London University in 1957. After six years in academia, he joined the Youngstown Sheet and Tube Company and for the next 30 years, managed technical activities at several integrated steel companies. In 1993, he joined a mini-mill, Charter Steel, to manage their environmental program. In 1999, he retired to become a private consultant to the industry and to the U.S. Department of Energy. He has been active in ISS/AIST for nearly fifty years (Distinguished Member in 1984, Elliott Lecturer in 1995, Howe Lecturer in 1997, and Brimacombe Lecturer in 2006). He is married with three sons, and hobbies include golf, the history of iron and steelmaking, and watercolor painting.