At the federal stage of the All‑Russian "Best in Profession" competition in the "Flame‑Cutting Torch Operator" category, Novokuznetsk will bring together people who have discovered a unique magnetism in this demanding trade – a synergy of masculine character, perseverance, and skill. They transform heavy industrial labor into a creative art form.
Finalists admit that they experience a deep sense of satisfaction when a massive, unwieldy pile of metal parts precisely under the flame of their torch disjoints with surgical accuracy.
"Our enterprise has great respect for the working class," says Vyacheslav Antukh, a flame‑cutting torch operator at Vtormet LLC from Tomsk region, with pride. "The entire production cycle largely depends on our work. What matters to me is the ability to master related skills – artistic cutting, turning cold metal into a work of art through the power of fire and my own hands. Each such piece requires not only technical precision but also a creative approach, which makes the job truly multifaceted."
"When I first came to the shop floor and watched a finished part emerge from under a master's hands, it sparked my respect for the craft. I decided to stay and grow in this field. Metalworking is always needed – in any crisis, in any economic situation, metal will be cut, welded, and processed. So, I chose my path deliberately," shares Denis Baev, a flame‑cutting torch operator at Vtormet LLC from Altai Krai.
"This profession is truly dear to me. It's my life's work, and I'm proud of it," says Igor Uvarov, a flame‑cutting torch operator at Vostochno‑Sibirsky Vtormet LLC from Irkutsk region, briefly but with conviction.
We wish our competitors the best of luck in the decisive showdown!