On January 17, 1966, with Quebec premier Jean Lesage presiding as honorary chairman, QIT announced the construction of a ninth furnace, along with an impressive expansion project that would increase production capacity by 20%. The company was applauded for its important contribution to exports and its pioneering role in transforming Quebec’s natural resources into viable products for the world market.

The new furnace was put into operation in March 1967. The modern, superior-capacity model was built using highly sophisticated, avant-garde technology developed by QIT: computer-assisted loading. The recent advent of the computer and the inventiveness of the research group gave rise to this exceptional innovation. The year 1967 also saw the inception of the QIT-Fer et Titane research centre.