Novokuznetsk recently hosted the closing round of the "Best in Profession – Novyj Vtormet Cup," an international skills competition for scrap processing professionals from Russia and Kazakhstan. The event was attended by representatives from leading Russian and international scrap processing equipment manufacturers, Kuzbass educational institutions, and SGMK personnel and partners.
The competition was organized by the Association of Scrap Processors "Association of Siberian and Far Eastern Scrap Processors" (APL ProLom). The general sponsor is the Siberian Mining and Metallurgical Company (SGMK), with additional support from Novyj Vtormet, the Amurstal Plant, the Ashinsky Metallurgical Plant (all from Russia), and VTM-KZ (Kazakhstan).
Last year, the competition became international, and this year it expanded its geography significantly, with participants from Temirtau (Kazakhstan) to St. Petersburg, and from Oskol to Khabarovsk (Russia). This year's participants included teams from TransLom, UralMetCom, United Metallurgical Company, UVM Sibir', the Amurstal Plant, Ashinsky Metallurgical Plant, and V.F. Kuznetsov Novokuznetsk Mining and Transport College.
"We need to change the perception of the scrap metal industry, associating it with manufacturing and environmental stewardship, not criminal activity. Our efforts are focused on promoting this new perspective," Denis Kraev, SGMK General Director stated. "We initiated this competition three years ago to recognize the top talent in our field. It began as an internal event and has grown to include partner companies, now boasting international recognition. We've assembled the very best here – skilled professionals who take pride in their work and contribute to a cleaner, safer planet. May the strongest win; I will be rooting for professionalism!"
The ProLom educational and production cluster hosted 64 participants from 21 teams, competing in four skill categories: gas cutting, loader operation, crane manipulator operation, and crane operation. The competition mirrored real-world conditions: the full-cycle production site (the only one in Russia) was built with financial backing from SGMK as part of the "Professionalitet" project.
"The most difficult thing is to overcome yourself, to calm down – the rest is easy; we face this every day," Pavel Konstantinov, a gas cutter from Novyj Vtormet, Ufa, shared.
"The chance to meet everyone here is fantastic," Rustam Gataullin, a crane operator from the Ashinsky Metallurgical Plant, added. "It's a great opportunity to connect, share experiences, and maybe make some new friends. It's beneficial for students to engage with us, and we gain valuable insights from each other as well."
Thirty students from the Novokuznetsk Mining and Transport College competed alongside seasoned professionals, demonstrating their skills on virtual simulators that replicate real-world equipment.
Anatoly Poluektov, Director of V.F. Kuznetsov Mining and Transport College, reflected, "When I attended the inaugural competition in Novosibirsk, I was filled with anticipation for the day my students could showcase their abilities. That day has arrived! I am sincerely grateful to SGMK for the unique production site – there are no others like it in Russia – and for their help and support in various matters."
"Our primary objective is to equip students for immediate productivity upon entering the workforce, minimizing the need for on-the-job adaptation," Sofia Balakireva, Minister of Education of Kuzbass, emphasized. "The entire training program is designed with this goal in mind. We are proud to see these young people competing alongside seasoned professionals, demonstrating their mastery of these skills. Collaborating with SGMK on these ambitious projects is a true privilege."
The "Best in Profession – Novyj Vtormet Cup" united like-minded individuals, bringing together experienced professionals eager to mentor and newcomers enthusiastic to learn. While there were no losers in this event, some participants stood out as exceptional leaders. The team from UralMetCom (Stary Oskol) secured third place, Novyj Vtormet from Krasnoyarsk took second, and the Novyj Vtormet team from Tomsk claimed the winner's cup. All participants received certificates and memorable gifts, with the winners also awarded cash prizes from the general sponsor, SGMK.