Hot forging of high-tensile industrial bolts and nuts from recycled steel The Bolivian foundries and metalworking companies currently import their high-tensile industrial fasteners from hot forging companies in Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Peru. There exists a continuous demand for industrial fasteners in the end-user industries as the companies continuously need to replace the wearing parts of their production equipment, including the industrial fasteners. Additionally, each new production facility or network expansion in these sectors require new hardware components with its respective fasteners. The project aims to establish a company to produce hot forge high-tensile industrial bolts and nuts from steel bars made of recycled steel for the local and export market with a production capacity of 394 tonnes per year. The production facility will be certified according to the ISO 9001 and OHSAS 18001 standards. The joint venture will only purchase steel bars produced of scrap metal. Currently, scrap metal is wasted or collected and sold to Peru for USD 180 per ton to be re-imported again as (semi) final products at a price of USD 850 per ton (including USD 200 transport cost). The project is located in Santa Cruz. The applicant Tec-Stam Forjaria e Estamparia Ltda was established in 1993 in Sao Paolo, Brazil, and the local partner Eduardo S.A. was established in 1973 in Santa Cruz. The project partners plan to establish a joint venture. No other company in Bolivia produces hot-forged high-tensile industrial fasteners of any kind from scrap metal.Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)•	The joint venture will acquire ISO 9001 certification on Quality Management.•	To reduce the environmental impact, the joint venture will use steel bars produced from scrap metal. Furthermore, the joint venture will use an induction heater to heat the steel bars.•	Rainwater will be captured to supply the cooling water for the induction heater’s elements.•	All production waste will be sold to Eduardo to be used as raw material for the company’s production process. •	The joint venture will acquire OHSAS 18001 Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series certification. Extensive training will be provided with regard to operational safety. The operational staff will receive new safety clothing and accessories twice a year. •	The joint venture will offer its staff good employment conditions.•	The joint venture will implement a continuous training programme for its employees and create opportunities for its staff members to grow in the company.•	The education of employee’s children can be supported in case of financial stress due to the illness or passing away of the employee. Impact•	Employment and working conditionsThe joint venture will hire its personnel with indefinite labour contracts and will pay living wages to its entire staff.The 2013 household living wage totals Bs 4,400. Considering this amount should be earned by two employed family members, the individual “living wage” should be Bs 2,194. This compares to the legal minimum wage of Bs 1,200 per month since April 2013.The lowest salary paid will be Bs 1,810 (USD 260), 50% above the current minimum wage of Bs 1,200.•	Innovation/Transfer of knowledgeThe joint venture will cooperate with the public university Universidad Autónoma Gabriel René Moreno to organise guided internships for its students.•	Chain effectsExcept for the H13 steel required for the manufacturing of the dies, all raw material is sourced locally.Las Lomas will produce the SAE/AISI 1045 and SAE/AISI 4140 bars from SAE/AISI 1045 and SAE/AISI 4140 billets that the company will produce from scrap metal. As a result, the scrap metal collection companies will generate extra income as they will sell the scrap metal as input for the billets.The joint venture's local clients will benefit considerably from the lower prices of the high-tensile industrial bolts and nuts. Imported industrial fasteners are currently imported.Furthermore, the local clients will benefit from improved availability and increased supply security, as no international transport, border crossings or custom procedures will be required. As a result of the lower prices, the local clients may be able to improve their margins and increase their competitiveness.•	Impact on the sectorCurrently, Las Lomas imports billets to produce steel bars. No bars are produced in Bolivia at the moment. Thanks to the project’s demand, Las Lomas will start producing steel bars which will result in a lower price for other clients that require steel bars as their raw material like heavy machinery producers and workshops.•	EnvironmentThe joint venture will have a positive effect on the environment as it will only purchase steel bars produced of scrap metal. Currently, scrap metal is wasted or collected and sold to Peru to be re-imported again as (semi)final products.An induction heater will be used to heat the steel bars. The induction oven is an energy-efficient option in comparison to other means of metal heating.Rainwater will be captured to supply the cooling water for the induction heater’s elements.Finally, all production waste will be sold to Eduardo that will use the scrap metal as raw material for its production process.•	Position of womenThe joint venture is committed to hire as much female staff members as possible, as it is committed to equal employment opportunities. The nature of the production activities are not typically suitable for women, but the project partners have defined an ambitious goal to contract at least 11 women. The female employees will be recruited for the following positions: Engineer, Controller, Quality Control Officer, Management Assistant, Controller Assistant, Sales Assistants (2), Operators (3) and Cleaning staff. This results in female employees for 2 high positions, 5 medium positions and 4 basic positions. To establish a company to produce hot forge high-tensile industrial bolts and nuts from steel bars made of recycled steel for the local and export market with a production capacity of 394 tonnes per year.