Kai Halpin
Pacific Steel Group, Mojave Micro Mill
I am very grateful for the opportunity to have been the mechanical engineering intern for Pacific Steel Group (PSG) in Mojave, Calif., USA, this past summer. I was working directly with the engineering team to help construct the Mojave Micro Mill, a state-of-the-art, environmentally friendly steel plant.
Over the course of my internship, I worked closely with Steven Roloff, senior project manager; Greg Jackson, maintenance general foreman, and Sam Nogueira, mill operations manager, on a variety of projects to help make sure that the mill is built safely and effectively.
Working with Sam, I developed a strong understanding of the steelmaking process and the advanced production methods that PSG will implement at the Mojave micro mill. The facility incorporates extensive automation including robotic systems, conveyors, and overhead cranes. It utilizes a continuous casting process designed to improve efficiency, reduce energy consumption, and minimize manual labor. I worked on creating a detailed PSG specific steelmaking process report, to be used to train the influx of new staff once the micro mill gets up and running.
Having learned about the basics of steelmaking, I then worked with Steven, where I contributed directly to the engineering team by helping find the load calculations the multi-level pipe racks that would be connecting the water treatment facility to the rest of the micro mill, using AutoCAD to edit engineering drawings and verify clearances, verifying P&ID drawings vs field conditions by referencing the 3D coordination model in Navisworks and in-person field walkdowns.
At PSG, there was always a major emphasis on safety. Working with Greg Jackson, I helped run the PSG team’s daily safety meetings and underwent weekly deep dive safety trainings, learning about the correct safety procedures, incident reporting, and how to verify key risks in the job site.
Overall, my experience at PSG is one that I will never forget. Every day I was constantly learning, adapting and growing. I am extremely grateful to AIST for giving me this opportunity and for PSG for being willing to integrate me into their team and give me meaningful and interesting projects to work on. I am excited to see where a career in steel takes me.