In 2016, the Cuban steelworks Cubana de Acero celebrated the 100th anniversary of its founding in Havana. Although it functioned as an independent company from its inception, three years ago, with the restructuring of Cuba's state enterprise system, it became a Basic Enterprise Unit (UEB) of the Metallurgical Industry Enterprise Group's Steel Transformation Enterprise.
The company was originally created in 1898 to serve planters processing sugar cane, but in 1916 the facility was moved to Havana under the auspices of a U.S. steel company which focused primarily on structural steel. One example of its works in this era is the "skeleton" of the Capitolio's dome.
At the end of the 1950s, the proprietors lost interest in the factory and operations continued only as a result of workers' efforts. After the triumph of the Revolution, it was nationalized under Minister of Industry Ernesto (Che) Guevara, who placed it at the service of the people.
The steelworks undertook as its principal objective providing metal products produced on order from specific clients, through a process of transforming metal, providing assembly services, and repairs.
Cubana de Acero makes all types of metal structures, be they for the construction of a bridge or equipment for community sanitation services. Work is done in fabrication and welding; cutting, shaping, and machining of steel; among other services in this line of work offered by the versatile company.
Concrete examples include the springboard platform used during the 2014 Red Bull Cliff Diving competition in Havana; the metal framework supporting the sculpture of Camilo Cienfuegos in Havana’s José Martí Plaza de la Revolución; and the bank of flagpoles erected in the Tribuna Antimperialista, facing the U.S. embassy on the city's waterfront.
To better understand how the factory functions, Francisco Madan Gómez, Cubana de Acero director, explained the production cycle: "It begins with the client's order and the contracting of our services. Following this is an analysis of the project which includes a preliminary blueprint. The engineering department visits the site where the product will be placed; a sketch is made, and the plan's implementation begins. After passing through the cutting workshop, if necessary, it is sent to machining. Next comes the assembly workshop, and then it returns to the sales department, which presents the finished product to the buyer."
Companies which contract the steelworks' services operate in different industrial sectors. Among these are those located in the Mariel Special Development Zone and in tourism, but the principal client is Community Sanitation Services, given the importance of its work to the country.
"Cubana de Acero collaborates, for example, on the Hotel Manzana de Gómez, for which we have produced several structures, from stairways to water tanks. We also make replacement parts for garbage trucks, which come in with only the cabin and wheels, and leave ready to provide their services on the streets," explained Jairo García Eirea, head of the technical productive group, who added that the factory also fabricates solid waste containers for the western province of Pinar del Río, making possible the replacement of imports with domestic products.
The raw material used by the steelworks is entirely imported for each project, with the financing of interested parties. The company does, however, contribute to replacing imports by, for example, producing exhaust pipes for electrical generators and repairing hooklifts for garbage collection, which would otherwise be imported. A project is also underway to create the towers used to support large construction cranes.
Despite the importance of the factory to the national economy, one of the principal challenges it faces is its low level of exports, given that the raw material used is imported.
"To enter the international market, we would need more independence and autonomy to access prime materials, because to insert ourselves into global competition, we must sell at lower prices than others," Madan commented.
This does not however prevent the company from pursuing its objective of continuing to make a positive contribution to the country's economy.
"Cubana de Acero is immersed in a new project related to renewable energy, with small bio-digestors and plants to process bio-diesel. There are large cooperation projects, but are still being negotiated," García said.
Cubana de Acero is a company that could contribute more to the country, but given the obsolete technology used, and adaptations made, its machinery often functions only because of workers' ingenuity and effort.
Little by little, working conditions are improving. Compressors, cranes, roofing, and the cafeteria have been repaired, and safety equipment is becoming more available.
Despite these circumstances, the factory's work impacts the national economy, according to its director, since, in his words, they "fabricate factories."
"You cannot construct a bridge without a beam, and since it is metallic, it is made here. You cannot construct a railroad without an iron bridge; it is made here. This is a heavy industry factory, we can participate in all investment projects."
Closing the year, Cubana de Acero's production reached 658 tons, evidence of its growth and notable accomplishments, surpassing the projected plan by 40% in terms of earnings and sales.
