Iron marketing and modernisation in the Urals in XIX century: evident and implicit links

The article is about the experience of modernisation at Demidovs’ metallurgical works (Nizhniy Tagil town) in 1840-1850-es. The authors note that orientation on export of cast iron and steel to Western Europe was an efficient incentive for process improvement at metallurgical works in the Middle Urals. At the same time they pay attention to contradictory character of modernisation processes. In particular it showed up in unwillingness of enterprises’ administrations to switch to application of bituminous coal as a basic source of fuel.