Nicklas C. Barber - 2015 Steel Internship scholar
When I think of steel, the first things that come to mind are skyscrapers, bridges and cars. Although steel is such a common engineering material for economic development, it is often overlooked and taken for granted by the average consumer. Working for ArcelorMittal over the past two summers has helped me realize how important and useful this material is. Winning this scholarship has allowed me to attend my final year without having to take out loans, and for that I cannot express my gratitude enough to the AIST Foundation.
In the summer of 2015, I worked for ArcelorMittal Indiana Harbor. My project was challenging but rewarding, and I learned a lot about the steelmaking process during my time there. Specifically, my project was concerned with the removal of waste material generated from the sintering process. Understanding the current waste removal process and the equipment used was critical in developing a plan to solve the issue. During my time at the sinter plant, I was able to complete a cost analysis to automate four air cannons installed on the sides of the hoppers below the reverse-air-style baghouse. I also created multiple maintenance reports in an effort to improve the condition of hoppers. These documents outline areas of the hoppers that had cracks or holes, and improperly functioning equipment.
Through my internships with ArcelorMittal the past two summers, I have learned what I would like to do, places where I may like to work and live, as well as how to manage projects and work with others in order to complete the assigned tasks. With that said, I will be career hunting as I enter my senior year of college, and the steel industry will be at the top of that list. The steelmaking process is not a simple process, but rather a challenging one. That is what attracts me to the industry: the challenge. I will embrace this challenge because it will allow me to learn and grow not only as a professional, but also as an individual.