MANUFACTURING x CHEMISTRY
The beginning of mass-produced steel
The Bessemer process, patented by Henry Bessemer in 1856, revolutionized the steel industry by providing a simple, efficient method to mass produce steel from molten pig iron. This process involved blowing air through molten iron to remove impurities and carbon in a machine called the 'Bessemer Converter,' dramatically speeding up steel production and reducing costs.
The adoption of the Bessemer process laid the foundation for the mass production of steel, instrumental in enabling the industrial growth of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Eventually, it was replaced by more modern steelmaking processes, but its impact on industrial development worldwide remains undeniable.