Industrial genius John Fritz made significant advances to iron and steel refinement processes during his highly regarded career. Early on, Fritz invented the “three high rolling mill,” a new iron rolling design that drastically increased the efficiency of the existing method. Fritz brought the Bessemer process, a revolutionary method that made the mass production of steel a relatively inexpensive process, to Bethlehem in the 1870’s. Because of his vision and intuition, Bethlehem was able to become a world-leading center for production of steel.
As Charles Schwab guided the business success of Bethlehem Steel, John Fritz impacted the technical side. Throughout his career, Fritz paved the way for the success “the Steel” would have in years to come. He revolutionized the company’s procedures, brought innovative production techniques, and urged the company’s direction to encourage industrial expansion and risk taking. By the time of his death in 1913, the name John Fritz was recognizable around the world as a leading expert in the iron and steel industry.
