Usina Wigg - The Beginnings of Steelmaking in Brazil

Rodiadouro – the original name of the district later renamed Miguel Burnier – was a central location in the administration and economic network of Minas Gerais.

The discovery of gold and precious minerals transformed the region into a destination for those seeking opportunities, while also drawing the attention of the scientific community. Several years later, in 1875, the School of Mines of Ouro Preto was founded.

During the 18th and early 19th centuries, the growing demand for iron tools was met primarily through imports. Despite state incentives, there were few successful attempts to establish a furnace capable of supplying the domestic market and remaining economically viable.

In an effort to build a new and modern iron factory, a partnership was formed in September 1888, giving rise to the company Amaro e Gerspacher. The partnership was established between entrepreneur Carlos Wigg, Amaro da Silveira, Henrique Hargreaves, and Jean Albert Gerspacher.

This partnership led to the creation of “Usina Esperança”. The blast furnace was inaugurated on July 21, 1891, with its first iron run. The factory became both a media and commercial success, and was sold to the Society of Forges and Shipyards in 1892 for 550 contos de réis.

Based on the experiences gained at Usina Esperança, Carlos Wigg led a new partnership with Amaro Lanari and Joseph Gerspacher. Carlos Wigg acquired a large area of land next to the newly inaugurated São Julião Railway Station.

The factory was designed so that all the necessary raw materials could be extracted from the land itself. The infrastructure was completed by the railway line, which made easy the travel of people and goods from the hinterlands of Minas Gerais to the ports of Rio de Janeiro.

Another key figure in the administration of Usina Wigg was Alice Wigg. In addition to managing the factory with Carlos, she took over after her husband's death. Among her accomplishments, she participated and financed the founding of the Church of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

The land contained not only high-quality iron ore but also significant deposits of pyrolusite, a manganese ore. This allowed Usina Wigg to diversify its production, providing more revenue stability despite volatile iron ore prices.

Hematite (Fe₂O₃) is one of the primary iron ores used in the production of iron and steel. This sample comes from Miguel Burnier, the district of Ouro Preto, MG.

Pyrolusite (Mn4O2) is a key ore for manganese extraction. In the 19th century, the Miguel Burnier region was a global leader in producing this mineral, used in making iron alloys and special steels.

Usina Wigg's blast furnace transformed iron ore, coal, and limestone into pig iron, a key material for products like tools and railway tracks. The image shows the furnace in operation in 1919 (top) and later as an industrial archaeological site (bottom).

In addition to its blast furnace, Usina Wigg also had a cupola furnace capable of refining pig iron. Once the refined iron was poured into sand molds, it could be turned into tools or larger parts.

In its early years, Usina Wigg was a major contributor to Brazil's iron and steel production, accounting for much of the national output. Its peak production coincided with the two World Wars.

On display is one of the dividing plates used to mark the boundaries of the Usina Wigg’s land. The plate was produced in the factory itself, in the furnace.

Usina Wigg produced and shipped iron parts for the construction of Minas Gerais' new capital, Cidade de Minas (now Belo Horizonte). Items like utility hole covers still found in the city highlight the significance of the steel industry at the time.

The railway system was vital to Usina Wigg's development, enabling trade between Minas Gerais and the world. Before its construction, transportation was done by donkeyback.

Inaugurated in 1887, São Julião Station (later Miguel Burnier) became a key hub for distributing goods from Minas Gerais to global markets via Rio de Janeiro ports, making the district one of the state's most important commercial centers.