Today, on July 19, Belarus celebrates Metallurgist's Day. Metallurgy is the foundation of the country's industrial potential, supporting the fields of mechanical engineering, construction, and many other sectors of the economy. On this professional holiday, we express our gratitude to all the metallurgists in the country, who possess strong character and unwavering determination, indispensable for the industrial development of our nation.
History of the Holiday
Metallurgist's Day was established in the Soviet Union on September 28, 1957, when the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR issued a corresponding decree. With this act, the state marked the outstanding contribution of the metallurgical industry to the economic recovery after the Great Patriotic War and its strategic importance for the country. The third Sunday of July was chosen as the date for the celebration. It was first celebrated on July 20, 1958.
In sovereign Belarus, the holiday gained official status through Presidential Decree No. 157 of March 26, 1998, "On State Holidays, Holiday Days, and Memorable Dates in the Republic of Belarus."
Metallurgist's Day in Belarus is not just a professional holiday, but an event that is widely celebrated throughout the country. Festive events are held in cities where large metallurgical enterprises are located. Traditionally, on the eve of the holiday and on the holiday itself, solemn gatherings and concerts are organized, where the best workers of the industry are honored.
Metallurgist's Day is especially widely celebrated in Zhlobin, the city where the flagship of Belarusian metallurgy, the Belarusian Metallurgical Plant, is located. The plant hosts neighborhood festivals, concerts, and entertainment programs, and in recent years, new formats have emerged, such as the Steel City cycling quest and the Steel Run. In anticipation of the professional holiday, the plant traditionally holds open days, offering guided tours, contests, technology exhibitions, and activities for children and adults. The holiday brings together nearly 20,000 professionals dedicated to this challenging and responsible endeavor.
Metallurgists at BNTU
The Belarusian National Technical University is rightfully proud of its role in training personnel for the metallurgical industry. For many years, the Polytechnic University has been training specialists who work at the country's leading industrial enterprises after graduation.
The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Technology (MET) at the BNTU provides training for metallurgists. The faculty includes specialized departments, including Metallurgy of Ferrous and Non-Ferrous Alloys, Machines and Technology of Foundry Production, Powder Metallurgy, Welding, and Material Technology, S.I. Gubkin's Machines and Technology of Metal Processing, and Materials Science in Mechanical Engineering.
Today, the faculty's professors continue the glorious tradition of providing high-quality engineering education while adopting modern teaching methods. Graduates of the faculty work at key metallurgical production facilities in Belarus, including OJSC BMZ – the management company of the BMK holding, OJSC MOTOVELO, OJSC MZOR and many others. Engineers educated at BNTU are engaged in steel smelting, development of new alloys, improvement of technological processes, production management, thereby making a huge contribution to strengthening the economy and technological sovereignty of the republic.
The MTF departments have a modern laboratory base for conducting training sessions and scientific research, and their faculty consists of highly qualified specialists, including doctors and candidates of technical sciences. The university trains specialists in the fields of ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, metallurgy and heat treatment, foundry production, and metal forming.
Dear metallurgists and industry veterans! We would like to extend our sincere congratulations on your professional holiday. We wish you good health, stable work, and new achievements in production and technology. May your dedication, professionalism, and strong character always serve as an example for future generations of engineers!
