On 31 August 1935, the founding stone of Belgo Mineira's steel plant in João Monlevade was laid in presence of the Brazilian president Getúlio Vargas and ARBED's president Gaston Barbanson.

On that same day, president Getúlio Vargas inaugurated the publicly funded railway line connecting João Monlevade to the Atlantic coast and the capital of Minas Gerais. 

The steel plant in João Monlevade was named "Usina Barbanson" and its first blast furnace was named "Getúlio Vargas", both in honour of the special guests.

The first blast furnace started functioning in 1937 and the steel plant has been continuously in operation ever since.

The "Usina Barbanson" attracted thousands of workers and engineers from various countries seeking new job opportunities. Consequently, the company built an entire industrial town from scratch in order to accommodate its workforce and their respective families.

Today, this steel plant belongs to ArcelorMittal with thousands of workers producing long steel products.