In the Blast Furnace Plant, the first smelters are the "masters". Not just anyone can do this job. One of the most experienced is Peter Malík, the first smelter on blast furnace No. 3.

He has been working in the ironworks since 1988, before that he was a miner in Karviná for four years. Since he is an Easterner, after the war he looked for and found a job in the Košice ironworks, right on the blast furnaces. He started as a helper, i.e. "a girl for everything", then became the second smelter and since 1994 he has been the first smelter. That this profession is really unusual is also proven by the fact that 10 first melters work on one furnace (two on one shift). In total, there are thirty of them in the ironworks, on three furnaces.

Anyone who has not yet seen the blast furnace from the inside and has not been to the tapping of the iron, certainly cannot even imagine what this work is about. Peter Malík modestly noted that the first smelter manages and controls the activities of a 5-member crew, but there is much, much more behind it. It was and still is a very physically demanding job, in a demanding environment and in extreme heat.

"A lot of things have improved here since I joined. We have better technology, the gutters are covered, there is better suction, we have better protective equipment and better order," says Peter Malík and adds: "However, fewer people work here. We used to be fifteen on a shift, and now there are five of us."

Free sauna

What hasn't changed is that it's a very physically demanding job, that's why no woman does it. And the omnipresent heat, which must be unbearable, especially in summer. "You get used to it. The first ten years are the worst, and then it goes. In the summer, we have a sauna here for free, others have to pay ," specifies Peter Malík.

In one work shift, the team of the 1st smelter makes four tappings. One lasts about 90 minutes. There is about a 30-40 minute break between taps depending on performance. The liquid metal has an average temperature of around 1,460 degrees Celsius when tapping and depends on the charge itself. On average, 400 tons of liquid iron and about 120 tons of slag flow out of the furnace during one tapping. At tapping, the bakers must be wrapped in silver plated protective clothing from head to toe. In the past, asbestos was used, which was extremely heavy. A protective shield cannot be missing and a protective mask must also be at hand, in case there is a higher CO content during casting.

Hands faster than the brain

When something does not go as it should, there is a lower quality charge, worse input material, you need to be able to intervene quickly. Sometimes the hands have to work automatically and the brain goes into full swing. Of course, the "brain" and skill are the most important things in this work.

Peter Malík likes to remember the event from 2007, when he flew with a group of three other smelters to the ironworks in Smederevo. Their task was to start the residual iron from the blast furnace, which was to go into overhaul, and colleagues in Serbia failed to shut down the device. "That's why we were quickly formed into a group and within about two hours, after arranging all the necessary things to leave, we were sitting on a company plane and flying to Belgrade. Cars were waiting for us at the airport, which took us straight to the factory. We managed to complete the work successfully after six hours. We received great praise and recognition for our performance."

Young people have to ask, no one in the world knows everything

The first smelter, Peter Malík, is also in charge of training young people. Matúš Jurko, Coordinator of Operation and Maintenance of Blast Furnaces Plant, says: "He is the most experienced in this position in our plant. That's why we try, when someone new comes, to put them to practice right next to them.  You can learn a lot from Peter, and I also like to hear his opinion when I need to solve an unusual problem."

"I encourage young boys to think while working. To always ask when they don't know something or don't understand it. There is no such person in the world who knows everything. In addition, I emphasize that it is very important to have order around us. This is the only way to prevent injuries. Everyone is responsible for their specific section," he says.

They also have a Christmas tree

The blast furnace workers are a very good team that likes to meet even after work. Whether for a beer or they go to the cottage together when they have a big day off. They are usually joined by colleagues from the "unit" or "two" of the furnace.  Now they are going to Orava and there should be about 16 of them.  Of course, without wives or girlfriends. It's a purely men's ride.

  

They have also become accustomed to the fact that they "miss" a work shift even during the holidays. Peter Malík also made this year's Easter last Christmas: "We have a habit – everyone brings something: cakes, schnitzels, salad, sandwiches... Let's put it on the table together and make the change more pleasant. We also have a tree for Christmas."

My wife works in a cafeteria, my son is a fireman

His loved ones also work in the ironworks. My wife is in the cafeteria at Cokery Plant and my son is a fireman. My son has already become independent, he has his own family, so sometimes he goes to help him at the cottage, he also likes walks in nature, or does something at home. Last time, he made his wife happy, because he completely rebuild the entire bathroom. Other members of the more distant family usually tell him that they would never be able to do such a job as he does in their lives.

Awarded by the Minister of Economy

In 2021, the first smelter, Peter Malík, was awarded the Work Loyalty Award by the Minister of Economy of the Slovak Republic for his work.

Cooperation and photo: František Gregor

Photo from Banská Štiavnica: Ján Kysucký