Minerals mined from the asteroid belt were transported to the spaceport. After preliminary processing, they were fed into the forge's ore-refining equipment, turning into scorching molten slurry that streamed into the furnace.
These molten metals would flow into different processes according to the forge's production requirements, eventually becoming finished products rolling off the assembly line.
Though it was only a small forge, it could still complete the entire production process, from ore to finished product.
Note: the entire production process.
In other words, this was an industrial mother machine—something that could even replicate itself with enough effort.
Of course, using one forge furnace to produce another forge furnace was still rather difficult. At least for now, neither Ovilia nor Gutierrez had that capability.
Though that was mostly because neither of them possessed the forge's STC.
But regardless, an industrial facility theoretically capable of producing everything from bolters to Titans was undoubtedly a tremendous boost to Rostov II's industrial capacity.
At the very least, Rostov II could now claim to possess a respectable industry, even if it consisted of only a single small forge.
When Chen Xi had Mai Mai purchase this equipment, he had also obtained production licenses for various Astra Militarum equipment from Mariupol Forge World. Once the forge's fires were lit, it could begin supplying the Planetary Defense Force with military materiel.
Although it still lacked production licenses for some crucial heavyweight weapons, such as super-heavy tanks like the Shadowsword and Baneblade, as well as Earthshaker Cannons, ordinary standard weaponry could still be produced locally.
Production licenses for common Astra Militarum armored vehicles, including the Leman Russ Tank and Sentinel Walker, were not especially difficult to obtain. Through Sage Donya's connections, Mai Mai had secured licenses for several common models.
To some extent, this was Forge Master Guteres's