A father and son working at Tenaris in Canada share their steel family’s story

When Alejandro Colicchio first walked into a Tenaris mill in 1993, his son Martín wasn't born yet. More than thirty years later, the two work at the same Tenaris plant in Sault Ste. Marie, Canada: Alejandro, in rolling mill operations; Martín, in maintenance. They carry with them a family story that began long before either of them: Alejandro's own father was a rolling mill manager in the Argentine steel industry.

Alejandro, when did you join Tenaris?

Alejandro: I joined in 1993, at the Siderca mill, in Campana, Argentina. I was finishing my mechanical engineering studies and working at another steel mill where they made welded pipes used in construction. One day my boss asked me to design something, and I had to order some pieces of mechanical seamless pipe. I remember staring at those pipes thinking: how are they made? That question stayed with me. A few years later I applied to Tenaris, they called me for an interview, and I joined a program for young engineers.

You came to Sault Ste. Marie in 2005. What was supposed to be a short stay turned into a new life here. What made you stay?

Alejandro: They asked me to come for six months to help with an assignment here. I brought my whole family. Martín was two years old. After 10 years in Siderca, I was ready for something different. Later we spent two years in Mexico, and when the chance came to return to Canada, my wife and I didn't even need to talk about it. One week later, we were back. What I like about Canada is the culture of freedom: people say what they think. The weather is hard, but I love everything else. To get something done, you have to work as a team. Nobody says "let's go" without thinking it through together. And Sault Ste. Marie is a beautiful community to raise a family: there’s nature, little traffic, lots of outdoor activities, great schools.

Martín, you were two when you arrived. When did you first understand what your dad actually did for a living?

Martín: Honestly, for a long time, I didn't. He said he made pipe, and I couldn't really picture it. In my last year of university, I finally asked him to explain. Instead, he brought me to the mill and gave me his own personal tour, from the hot end all the way through finishing. Seeing the whole process, talking to the operators, it looked like a movie. It didn't look real. That tour is what inspired me to apply here.

And Martín, what was your journey at Tenaris from there?

Martín: I started as a summer student in supply chain during my third year of university. After I graduated, I joined the GT program in the hot rolling mill and maintenance. I spent a year and a half there, and now I've been in finishing maintenance. So far, it's been fun, crazy, but it's been good.

Alejandro, what advice did you give him before he started?

Alejandro: I always told Martín the same thing I'd tell anyone: when you're in a meeting, imagine your family is sitting behind you, listening to every word you say. That's how you should act. You don't lie to people you love. So don't lie at work either. And the second piece of advice: be honest with yourself about what you love doing. If you love your work, the paycheck is a double reward.

Has working in the same place changed your relationship?

Martín: Yes, a lot. We're closer now. Before, his work was kind of an obscurity to me: I knew he made pipe, that was it. Now I understand what he does, he knows what I do, and we relate to each other much more easily. We help each other whenever we can. We have a lot more to talk about at home.

Alejandro, having Martín at the plant, has it changed the way you see your own work?

Alejandro: Yes, completely. I have double the responsibility now. It's not just about doing my job. It's about making this place succeed also for him and for the young people coming up. When I was the only one in the company, I could say, "I'm at the end of my career, it's okay." Now Martín is here and I realize it’s not the end. Many young people are here. We have a duty to leave this place in good shape.

What do you most value about working at Tenaris as a family?

Martín: Tenaris is a company with a lot of integrity. Merit focused, very honest, and demanding in a good way. It drives you to work harder. It gives you something to reach for. Our family is the same: very connected, very competitive. We have pickleball battles almost every weekend.

Alejandro: It's a challenging place, because the company is always growing and changing. For an engineer, it's a beautiful place to work. New equipment, new products, new things customers need. It keeps you busy. It's not just a job; it's a way of life. When I started in 2005, this plant was going through ups and downs, but in the last five years it's become very stable, and now Sault Ste. Marie has become an increasingly important part of Tenaris’s industrial network. After almost twenty years of this journey, we're where we wanted to be.

Martín, what do you want to do in the next years?

Martín: I see myself becoming a leader in the company in a few years, helping us grow here in Sault Ste. Marie, especially with all the big investments coming. I'm excited to be part of that.

Alejandro, you mentioned that your own father worked in the steel industry. So Martín is actually the third generation in steel. If a Colicchio grandchild one day asked whether to join Tenaris, what would you both say?

Alejandro: My father was a rolling mill manager: I have a picture of him watching the hot plate roll. I want to be a picture like that for my son one day. Martín is the third generation in steel. If a fourth one asked me, I'd say the same thing my father told me, and the same thing I told my children: be free and do what you want. Maybe the next generation decides to follow our steps, maybe not. If they like the industry or engineering, however, this is a beautiful place to work.

Martín: I agree. This is a great spot for young engineers who want to learn, take on a challenge, and grow professionally. Plus, the city is beautiful, the commute is short, the community is warm. It's a perfect place to raise a family.

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