On Friday, September 11, 2026, a celebration was held in Banská Štiavnica on the occasion of the Day of Miners, Metallurgists, Geologists and Oil Producers.
Nine colleagues from our company were also awarded the highest departmental awards – the badge of the Minister of Economy.
Eight of them can pin the badge For Work Loyalty to their metallurgical uniforms. They are: Marián Forrai from DZ Oceliareň, Nataša Gregová from DZ Doprava, Peter Mojžiš from DZ Teplá valcovňa, Ľubomír Račko from IT, Róbert Seregély from DZ Maintenance, Ľubomír Simčák from DZ Blast Furnaces, Slavomír Srnka from DZ Studená valcovňa and Alexander Zemančík, who works in the Sales section. The Minister's Badge for Work Dedication was awarded to Erich Hegedűš from DZ Energetika.
Celebration in the church
In addition to the awarded employees, the ceremony in the Church of St. Catherine was attended by their partners and managers of our company. The very beginning of the event, the arrival of the flag bearers, the mining and metallurgical anthem performed by the male choir Štiavničan was very nice. In her speech, the Mayor of Banská Štiavnica, Nadežda Babiaková, welcomed the guests and emphasized the importance of this historic mining town, which is a bearer of tradition, education and cultural heritage. Mining, metallurgy and geology are an integral part of its identity.
The highest departmental awards were presented to the awarded employees by Szabolcs Hodosy, State Secretary of the Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic
Katsuhiro Miyamoto congratulated the awarded employees
We lit up the city
In the evening, the historic center of the town was filled with the Salamander Parade, which is one of the most important and beautiful traditions of Banská Štiavnica. It commemorates its rich mining history and pays tribute to generations of miners, metallurgists and students of mining schools.
Representatives of mining and metallurgical associations from Slovakia and abroad, employees of companies, students, generals of Slovak mining, metallurgy and geology traditionally walk in its vanguard.
Our almost 80-member group, equipped with flags, glowing sticks and sparklers accompanied by the rhythms of BATIDA drummers, literally lit up the whole city. We were the last to walk in the vanguard and the people of Štiavnica greeted us warmly. Of the lights we handed out, the children were the most happy, who lined both sides of the street we were walking with their parents in hundreds.
They felt welcome and at home
Our award-winning employees were thrilled with the whole event. They liked the celebration, some wives even shed tears when their husbands received their awards. They described the experience of the parade as electrifying, which was not detracted from its charm even by the unrelenting light rain.
"We have never experienced anything like this. The whole atmosphere of the city was amazing, people lived this event and welcomed us with joy. We felt at home there. You probably can't experience it anywhere else. We really appreciate that we could be here, not a common thing," said Alexander Zemančík and his wife Dana on behalf of everyone.
Our nine colleagues became part of a group of 191 employees of the company, whose work has been awarded these departmental awards since 2005. All colleagues awarded last Friday will be presented on the X App in the coming days (in alphabetical order).
Today we bring you an article about Marián Forrai from DZ Oceliareň.
Photo: Ján Kisucký
