When Clifton W. Sherman opened a small foundry in Hamilton, Ontario, in 1912, did he possibly dream of a day when the company would become Canada’s largest steelmaker?

It’s easy to speculate that he had a good eye for people. The 150 employees he hired to make castings for the railway industry helped the company grow steadily in those early years. By the 1920s, Dofasco was able to diversify, adding Canada’s first steel plate to its product line. The mid ’30s saw another major step with the introduction of flat rolled steel, including the first tinplate produced in Canada.

Dofasco’s modern era began in the 1950s. In 1951 the company added coke ovens and a blast furnace—both needed to produce molten iron—and thus became an integrated steel mill. Another fundamental decision was to build the company’s future on advanced steelmaking technology. Accordingly, Dofasco became the first mill in North America to make steel with the basic oxygen process now used throughout the world. That commitment to innovative technology has continued to the present day. Between 1960 and 1990 Dofasco invested three billion dollars in advanced facilities and expanded capacity from one million to seven million tons annually.

Highly automated and computerized control pulpit for the 7-stand Finishing mill in Dofasco’s #2 Hot Strip Mill.

Dofasco has always believed that technology alone can never provide a complete response to any business challenge. The skills and attitude of the individual employee are at least as important. So at Dofasco, a broad range of training programs and innovations such as Profit Sharing, introduced in 1938, are basic features of the everyday working experience. The overall result is a high level of employee commitment — a commitment that helps the company respond effectively to new challenges. At no time have the challenges been greater than they are in this decade. The age of the global economy creates intense international competition for steelmakers and their customers.

To make their products more competitive, many Canadian manufacturers are turning to new and specialized grades of steel which are more demanding to produce. They also require steel that meets tighter and tighter tolerances as well as service that is custom-tailored to their specific needs. Dofasco’s ongoing quality oriented expansion provides a larger and more flexible production base and enables the company to respond more com-pletely to customer needs. Moreover, the expansion and upgrading is a clear signal of Dofasco’s long-term commitment to the domestic market. As the 21st century approaches, Dofasco, now Canada’s largest steelmaker, is intensifying its focus on customer markets. No longer just a supplier of steel, Dofasco is helping customers to anticipate market needs and respond effectively.

As always the key is the individual employee. If Clifton W. Sherman were able to drop by for a visit, he wouldn’t recognize the place at first. But after talking to a few people, he’d feel right at home.