The Catalan Process

Abstract

[ENG] In Catalonia over a long period of time, between the xth century and 1878, some installations were developed, which at first were called «factories» and «fargues», since they manufactured iron and steel of low carbon content of excellent quality. Because of their singular quality, the fam e of this metal made in Catalonia spread to many countries. «Fargues» were started in Corsica, the Low Countries, Germany, Eastern India, Madagascar, Finland and along the rivers Orinoco, Mississipi and others. The extractive process used in these «fargues» has passed in to history as the «Catalan Farga Process» or just «Farga Catalana». With this technology, raw material was obtained to supply the transformation industries, such as the manufacturing of to ol, nails, weapons, grills, etc., which in addition to supplying the national marked, were exported.