http://www.metalcenternews.com RSS feeds for Metal Center News 60 http://www.metalcenternews.com/Editorial/CurrentIssue/CurrentNews/tabid/2524/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10092/People-on-the-Move.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.metalcenternews.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=2524&ModuleID=13831&ArticleID=10092 http://www.metalcenternews.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=10092&PortalID=51&TabID=2524 http://www.metalcenternews.com/Editorial/CurrentIssue/CurrentNews/tabid/2524/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10092/People-on-the-Move.aspx March 20, 2013 People on the Move Frank A. Riddick has been appointed chairman of Houston-based Shale-Inland Holdings, replacing Craig Bouchard. Riddick has more than 30 years of experience in various industrial positions, most recently as CEO of JMC Steel Group. "The management team is looking forward to continuing its partnership with the board under the stewardship of Mr. Riddick," says CEO Richard E. Lundgren Jr. "We thank Mr. Bouchard for his service to Shale-Inland and wish him well as he pursues other interests." Lindsey Patterson has been promoted to regional administrative manager for the Southern Region by O'Neal Steel Inc. She will oversee and ensure the efficient flow of administrative and clerical responsibilities for the region, which includes Birmingham and Mobile, Ala.; Knoxville and Nashville, Tenn.; Jacksonville and Tampa, Fla.; Jackson, Miss.; and Greensboro, N.C. Also, Ryan Burdine has been promoted to regional operations manager for the region. Harry Kiafoulis has been appointed director of sales for the East Region by Central Steel & Wire Co., Chicago. He will be responsible for sales in lower Michigan and northern Ohio. He replaces Larry Turner, who is retiring from the company after 41 years of service. John G. Reid has been promoted to vice president and chief operating officer of Russel Metals, Mississauga, Ontario. He had been serving as president of the company’s JMS Russel Metals operation since its acquisition in 2007. Wed, 20 Mar 2013 18:26:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:10092 http://www.metalcenternews.com/Editorial/CurrentIssue/CurrentNews/tabid/2524/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10091/Austrian-Steel-Group-Plans-DRI-Plant-in-Texas.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.metalcenternews.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=2524&ModuleID=13831&ArticleID=10091 http://www.metalcenternews.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=10091&PortalID=51&TabID=2524 http://www.metalcenternews.com/Editorial/CurrentIssue/CurrentNews/tabid/2524/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10091/Austrian-Steel-Group-Plans-DRI-Plant-in-Texas.aspx March 20, 2013 Austrian Steel Group Plans DRI Plant in Texas Austrian steelmaker voestalpine Group plans to build a new iron plant in Corpus Christi, Texas. The planned facilities, expected to begin operations in early 2016, are designed for an annual capacity of around 2 million tons of hot briquetted iron and direct reduced iron. "We examined a total of 17 sites in eight countries for this project, the largest foreign investment in the group’s history to date. In the end, Texas was the most convincing in terms of all the key criteria, including logistics, energy supply, a well-educated workforce, and the political environment," says Wolfgang Eder, chairman of the management board of voestalpine AG and head of voestalpine’s Steel Division. The plant will provide the company's Austrian steel production sites in Linz and Donawitz with access to cost-efficient and environmentally friendly HBI and DRI pre-materials, ensuring their competitiveness over the long-term. Initially, half of the products will be shipped to the overseas mills and the other half kept in strategic reserve and sold to partners interested in long-term contracts. The 500-acre site in the La Quinta Trade Gateway in San Patricio County is located on Corpus Christi Bay and has direct access to the sea. The easy access to natural gas in the United States, where it is one-quarter the cost in Europe, makes North America the ideal location for such a facility, Eder says. "In the USA, we can access energy cost efficiently and operate in a politically stable, predictable environment. This investment also provides the voestalpine Group an additional growth option in North America over the long term." Wed, 20 Mar 2013 18:19:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:10091 http://www.metalcenternews.com/Editorial/CurrentIssue/CurrentNews/tabid/2524/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10090/MSCI-Shipments-Down-Through-First-Two-Months-of-2013.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.metalcenternews.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=2524&ModuleID=13831&ArticleID=10090 http://www.metalcenternews.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=10090&PortalID=51&TabID=2524 http://www.metalcenternews.com/Editorial/CurrentIssue/CurrentNews/tabid/2524/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10090/MSCI-Shipments-Down-Through-First-Two-Months-of-2013.aspx March 20, 2013 MSCI: Shipments Down Through First Two Months of 2013 The sluggish start to the new year continued as service centers in both the United States and Canada experienced substantial shipping declines in February, according to the latest Metals Activity Report from the Metals Service Center Institute, Rolling Meadows, Ill. Inventory levels remained low in the U.S., while rising slightly in Canada. U.S. service centers shipped nearly 3.4 million tons of steel products in February, a decrease of 7.9 percent from the previous year. For the year to date, shipments totaled approximately 7 million tons, down 5.0 percent compared to 2012. U.S. steel product inventories totaled 8.5 million tons at the end of February, a decrease of 4.6 percent from a year ago, and a decrease of 2.6 percent from January. At February shipping rates, that represented 2.5 months of supply, an increase of 3.5 percent from 2012. U.S. service centers shipped 114,300 tons of aluminum products in February, a decrease of 12.1 percent from 2012. Year-to-date aluminum shipments totaled 240,400 tons, a decrease of 8.8 percent from the same period last year. U.S. inventories of aluminum products totaled 363,100 tons at the end of February, a decrease of 3.1 percent from the previous year, and down 0.9 percent from January. At February shipping rates, that represented 3.2 months of supply, an increase of 10.3 percent from 2012. Canadian service centers shipped 463,100 tons of steel products in February, down 14.5 percent from the same month last year. For the year to date, steel shipments totaled 985,400 tons, down 10.6 percent. Canadian steel product inventories totaled 1.8 million tons at the end of February, an increase of 2.4 percent from a year ago, and a decrease of 0.2 percent from January. At February shipping rates, that represented 3.8 months of supply, an increase of 19.7 percent from 2012. Canadian service centers shipped 11,900 tons of aluminum products in February, a decrease of 11.9 percent from the same month last year. Year-to-date aluminum shipments totaled 25,500 tons, a decrease of 7.4 percent. Canadian inventories of aluminum products totaled 38,200 tons at the end of February, an increase of 9.7 percent from a year ago, but a decrease of 6.3 percent from January. At February shipping rates, that represented 3.2 months of supply, an increase of 24.5 percent from a year ago. Wed, 20 Mar 2013 18:15:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:10090 http://www.metalcenternews.com/Editorial/CurrentIssue/CurrentNews/tabid/2524/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10089/Metals-USAs-Go-Shop-Period-Expires-Without-New-Buyer.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.metalcenternews.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=2524&ModuleID=13831&ArticleID=10089 http://www.metalcenternews.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=10089&PortalID=51&TabID=2524 http://www.metalcenternews.com/Editorial/CurrentIssue/CurrentNews/tabid/2524/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10089/Metals-USAs-Go-Shop-Period-Expires-Without-New-Buyer.aspx March 20, 2013 Metals USA's Go-Shop Period Expires Without New Buyer The 30-day go-shop period given to Metals USA in its proposed merger with Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. has expired without another potential buyer coming forward. Under the terms of the agreement, announced in February, the Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based service center company had one month to find an alternative proposal from a third party. During the go-shop period, Metals USA and its financial advisor, Goldman, Sachs & Co., contacted 67 potential alternative financial and strategic acquirers. None of the prospective buyers indicated an interest in submitting a proposal to acquire Metals USA, and no other entity made an unsolicited inquiry or proposal. Metals USA expects to file shortly with the Securities and Exchange Commission about the stockholders vote on the proposed merger with Reliance. The special meeting is scheduled for April 10. If approved, Metals USA will be acquired by Los Angeles-based Reliance, already North America's largest service center company. The new company will have more than $10 billion in revenues, more than twice the size of the next-largest metals distributor. The parties expect to complete the merger during the second quarter. Wed, 20 Mar 2013 18:11:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:10089 http://www.metalcenternews.com/Editorial/CurrentIssue/CurrentNews/tabid/2524/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10088/Ferrolux-Doubles-Slitting-Capacity-in-Michigan.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.metalcenternews.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=2524&ModuleID=13831&ArticleID=10088 http://www.metalcenternews.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=10088&PortalID=51&TabID=2524 http://www.metalcenternews.com/Editorial/CurrentIssue/CurrentNews/tabid/2524/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10088/Ferrolux-Doubles-Slitting-Capacity-in-Michigan.aspx March 20, 2013 Ferrolux Doubles Slitting Capacity in Michigan Ferrolux Metals Co. of Michigan LLC has added a second Herr Voss-Stamco cold-rolled slitting and inspection line at its Detroit facility. A duplicate of the existing line, the new line doubles the company's capability to provide automakers and other critical finish component manufacturers with slitting and inspection. Both the new and existing slitting lines can process exposed cold-rolled and unexposed hot-dipped and electrogalvanized, aluminized, stainless, prepaint, long terne and aluminum material. Capable of handling 110,000 pound coils, the new line can slit coils up to 78 inches wide in gauges from 0.015 inch to 0.156 inch. Like the existing line, the new line provides top and bottom strobe inspection, full x-ray gauging and coil defect mapping. Electrostatic oiling is also available as required. "It's all about providing our customers with more capacity to serve their needs. The addition of this second line will allow us to continue to provide our customers with slitting and inspection services that save money and ensure them of a superior quality product," says Ed Gonzalez, president of Ferrolux Metals. Wed, 20 Mar 2013 18:09:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:10088 http://www.metalcenternews.com/Editorial/CurrentIssue/CurrentNews/tabid/2524/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10086/Tanners-Hot-Rolled-Prices-to-Average-610-in-2013.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.metalcenternews.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=2524&ModuleID=13831&ArticleID=10086 http://www.metalcenternews.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=10086&PortalID=51&TabID=2524 http://www.metalcenternews.com/Editorial/CurrentIssue/CurrentNews/tabid/2524/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10086/Tanners-Hot-Rolled-Prices-to-Average-610-in-2013.aspx March 20, 2013 Tanners: Hot-Rolled Prices to Average $610 in 2013 Metals executives hoping to see a rebound in steel pricing in 2013 are in for some disappointment, said Timna Tanners during the Platts Steel Markets North America Conference last week in Chicago. The steel market analyst from Bank of America Merrill Lynch predicts hot-rolled coil pricing will stay around $610 in 2013, and won’t even reach that average in the next two years. The primary reason for the uninspiring pricing forecast is oversupply, both on the raw materials front and in worldwide steelmaking capacity, she said, as well as moderating demand in China. Tanners’ firm believes China’s steel demand will grow only about 4 percent this year. "We're not believers that China will implode, but the supercycle is in the final stages, if not over," she said. China's excess capacity is well documented, but the same problem exists in Korea, Turkey and even India, Tanners said. Couple that with Europe’s economic problems and slow growth at home, and U.S. producers will have a difficult time supporting price hikes. Producers have two options to combat the low-price environment: they can become more niche oriented or they can reduce their costs. Tanners favors the latter. There are considerable risks in trying to find a high-margin niche. The first is that Chinese producers may follow suit, she said, pointing to electrical steel as an example. Similarly, an underserved market at home can quickly become saturated. "SBQ a couple of years ago was a very strong market. But every single SBQ producer has added capacity. That makes it a less strong market, which is the problem of trying to get into niche products." Going the low-cost route is a more logical step. More than that, she said, it's particularly feasible here in the United States. "The U.S. has a fantastic opportunity to lower costs because of the gas revolution." The prospects of projects such as Nucor's direct reduced iron facility, which is advantaged by low-cost natural gas replacing coke in the steel production process, opens the possibility for the U.S. to become a leading low-cost producer. And that may be a necessity, she cautioned. In previous poor markets, the domestic steel industry was able to muddle through the downturn to get to the profitable upswing that followed. But that upturn is likely remote, she said. "We're heading into what could be a lull, a repeat of the '90s, where things didn't move much for 10 years. Demand isn’t going to pop back in a year or two. It's not OK to just try the same playbook." Wed, 20 Mar 2013 18:06:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:10086 http://www.metalcenternews.com/Editorial/CurrentIssue/CurrentNews/tabid/2524/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/9915/MSCI-Study-Shows-Impact-of-Metals-Industry.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.metalcenternews.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=2524&ModuleID=13831&ArticleID=9915 http://www.metalcenternews.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=9915&PortalID=51&TabID=2524 http://www.metalcenternews.com/Editorial/CurrentIssue/CurrentNews/tabid/2524/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/9915/MSCI-Study-Shows-Impact-of-Metals-Industry.aspx March 6, 2013 MSCI Study Shows Impact of Metals Industry The economic contributions made by the metal production and distribution industry are a dynamic part of the U.S. economy, accounting for more than $552 billion or over 3.5 percent of the nation's gross domestic product in 2012, according to a recent study commissioned by the Metals Service Center Institute, Rolling Meadows, Ill. MSCI President and CEO M. Robert Weidner, III, points to the results as validation for the industry and the much-needed jobs it provides. "Our industry and our members play an important role in our country’s economy," he says. "We need both local and national elected leaders to pay attention to the issues and needs of the metals industry for it to remain viable and for industry executives to have the confidence to reinvest in and grow their companies. The future strength of our country depends on it." The study, conducted by John Dunham and Associates, also found that metal producers and service centers directly or indirectly employ nearly 2.5 million Americans. These workers will earn approximately $151.4 billion in wages and benefits. Members of the industry and their employees pay about $64.5 billion in federal, state and local taxes. "One of the reasons we commissioned the study is to be able to see exactly what the metals industry means to the economy, on both a local and national scale," Weidner says. "The numbers don't lie--these are desperately needed jobs and economic stimulation. It's vital that our elected leadership listen to their constituents and act in the best interest of the country and its people." The study results are accessible online in an interactive format and allow the user to dissect the data by congressional district. For more information, visit www.MSCI.org. Wed, 06 Mar 2013 18:16:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:9915 http://www.metalcenternews.com/Editorial/CurrentIssue/CurrentNews/tabid/2524/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/9912/NAM-Washingtons-Failure-Will-Cost-Jobs.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.metalcenternews.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=2524&ModuleID=13831&ArticleID=9912 http://www.metalcenternews.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=9912&PortalID=51&TabID=2524 http://www.metalcenternews.com/Editorial/CurrentIssue/CurrentNews/tabid/2524/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/9912/NAM-Washingtons-Failure-Will-Cost-Jobs.aspx March 6, 2013 NAM: Washington's Failure Will Cost Jobs The March 1 deadline came and went without an agreement between Congress and the White House, triggering the automatic cuts through sequestration. The Washington, D.C.-based National Association of Manufacturers criticized the failure of the nation’s elected leaders to reach a deal. "As the sequester hits, manufacturers are again reminded and frustrated by Washington’s inability to take on the hard challenges facing our country. Manufacturers—both inside and outside of the defense supply chain—warned against this meat-grinder approach that will cost manufacturing jobs," says Aric Newhouse, NAM's senior vice president for policy and government relations. NAM sounded the alarm bells last summer about the negative impact these cuts would have. The report, "Defense Spending Cuts: The Impact on Economic Activity and Jobs," found that more than 1 million people in the private sector would lose their jobs by 2014 if sequester took place. While manufacturers had no choice but to brace for this day by scaling back hiring and investment, the lasting impact to the overall economy will be felt in the weeks and months to come, NAM says. Its study found that by 2014, GDP will drop by almost 1 percent as a result of the indiscriminate cuts. "This is the wrong way to govern. Washington must have a thoughtful conversation to bring our nation's fiscal house to order, starting with meaningful pro-growth and pro-jobs entitlement and tax reform. Manufacturers are once again calling for Washington to come together in a serious, bipartisan way to save jobs and grow the economy," Newhouse says. Wed, 06 Mar 2013 18:13:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:9912 http://www.metalcenternews.com/Editorial/CurrentIssue/CurrentNews/tabid/2524/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/9911/Manufacturing-Expands-in-February.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.metalcenternews.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=2524&ModuleID=13831&ArticleID=9911 http://www.metalcenternews.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=9911&PortalID=51&TabID=2524 http://www.metalcenternews.com/Editorial/CurrentIssue/CurrentNews/tabid/2524/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/9911/Manufacturing-Expands-in-February.aspx March 6, 2013 Manufacturing Expands in February Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in February for the third consecutive month, hitting a PMI of 54.2 percent, according to the Tempe, Ariz.-based Institute for Supply Management. The reading of 54.2 percent was 1.1 percentage points better than January’s reading. It reflects the highest PMI since June 2001, when the index registered 55.8 percent. "The past relationship between the PMI and the overall economy indicates that the average PMI for January and February of 53.7 percent corresponds to a 3.6 percent increase in real gross domestic product on an annualized basis. In addition, if the PMI for February is annualized, it corresponds to a 3.7 percent increase in real GDP annually," says Bradley Holcomb, chairman of ISM's Manufacturing Business Survey Committee. Of the 18 manufacturing industries, 15 reported growth in February, including fabricated metal products, transportation equipment and miscellaneous manufacturing. The New Orders Index registered 57.8 percent, an increase of 4.5 percent over January's reading, indicating growth in new orders for the second consecutive month. As was the case in January, all five of the PMI's component indexes — new orders, production, employment, supplier deliveries and inventories — registered in positive territory in February. In addition, the backlog of orders, exports and imports indexes all grew in February relative to January. ISM's Production Index registered 57.6 percent in February, an increase of 4 percentage points compared to January. ISM's Employment Index registered 52.6 percent in February, which is 1.4 percentage points lower than January, but still indicates growth for the 41st consecutive month. Wed, 06 Mar 2013 18:10:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:9911 http://www.metalcenternews.com/Editorial/CurrentIssue/CurrentNews/tabid/2524/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/9910/Aleris-Shutters-Roxboro-Starts-Up-Asheville-Coating-Line.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.metalcenternews.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=2524&ModuleID=13831&ArticleID=9910 http://www.metalcenternews.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=9910&PortalID=51&TabID=2524 http://www.metalcenternews.com/Editorial/CurrentIssue/CurrentNews/tabid/2524/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/9910/Aleris-Shutters-Roxboro-Starts-Up-Asheville-Coating-Line.aspx March 6, 2013 Aleris Shutters Roxboro, Starts Up Asheville Coating Line Aleris Corp., Cleveland, has started up a new $21 million wide aluminum sheet coating operation in Asheville, Ohio. The new line is expected to increase production capabilities in the company's commercial trailer and business and construction markets. The new capacity also will enable the company to bring more volumes in house rather than employ outside toll coaters. The new line clears the way for Aleris to shut down operations at its Roxboro, N.C., facility. The Roxboro plant housed two slitters and two coating lines, manned by 60 employees. During his company's year-end conference call, Aleris Chairman and CEO Steve Demetriou called the decision, "a difficult but necessary step to take full advantage of the additional wide capacity in Asheville, and also further reduce our coating cost structure." According to published reports, the first layoffs are expected in April, with full plant closure by the end of May. Wed, 06 Mar 2013 18:07:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:9910 http://www.metalcenternews.com/Editorial/CurrentIssue/CurrentNews/tabid/2524/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/9909/AM-Castle-Reports-Full-Year-Loss.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.metalcenternews.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=2524&ModuleID=13831&ArticleID=9909 http://www.metalcenternews.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=9909&PortalID=51&TabID=2524 http://www.metalcenternews.com/Editorial/CurrentIssue/CurrentNews/tabid/2524/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/9909/AM-Castle-Reports-Full-Year-Loss.aspx March 6, 2013 A.M. Castle Reports Full-Year Loss A.M. Castle & Co., Oak Brook, Ill., reported a net loss of $9.7 million for 2012, a decline from the $1.8 million loss suffered in 2011. Net sales totaled $1.27 billion, up 12.3 percent from the previous year. For the fourth quarter, Castle reported net sales of $274.0 million, down 2.9 percent from the same period in 2011. The company reported a $5.6 million net loss during the quarter, an improvement from the $12.0 million loss in the fourth quarter the previous year. "As the overall market conditions deteriorated throughout the fourth quarter, we implemented additional measures to lower our costs in order to better position the company heading into 2013 and minimize the loss for the quarter," said Scott Dolan, president and CEO, during the company's quarterly conference call. “In addition, even with the challenging demand environment during the fourth quarter, we surpassed our second half of 2012 inventory reduction goal of $50 million. Inventory levels declined over $65 million, on a replacement cost basis, during the second half of 2012.” In Castle's Metals segment, fourth-quarter net sales of $242.3 million were down 4.2 percent from the same period in 2011. Metals segment tons sold per day, excluding Tube Supply, for the fourth quarter of 2012 were down 16.3 percent from the fourth quarter of the previous year. Sequentially, tons sold per day were 9.0 percent lower than the third quarter of 2012 as virtually all key end-use markets experienced softer demand due to extended customer shutdowns and weaker conditions in the overall economy compared to the third quarter. For the full year, Castle's Metal segment sales totaled $1.14 billion, up 12.8 percent from 2011. Tons sold per day, excluding Tube Supply, declined 3.9 percent from 2011 as gains in oil and gas were offset by weakness in the industrial business. Castle has targeted $33 million of annual operating income improvement as part of a plan announced in January. The company expects to realize $20 million of the targeted amount during 2013 through a restructuring of its operations. "We remain cautious heading into 2013 based on sentiments from many of our customers and a weaker overall economic outlook compared to early 2012. We will continue to focus on working capital management, maintaining strong gross material margins and executing the plan to reduce costs, improve operating performance and customer service that we announced in January. We have executed the initial steps of our improvement plan as scheduled," Dolan said. Wed, 06 Mar 2013 18:05:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:9909 http://www.metalcenternews.com/Editorial/CurrentIssue/CurrentNews/tabid/2524/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/9907/Greer-Steel-Opens-Service-Center-in-Dover.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.metalcenternews.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=2524&ModuleID=13831&ArticleID=9907 http://www.metalcenternews.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=9907&PortalID=51&TabID=2524 http://www.metalcenternews.com/Editorial/CurrentIssue/CurrentNews/tabid/2524/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/9907/Greer-Steel-Opens-Service-Center-in-Dover.aspx March 6, 2013 Greer Steel Opens Service Center in Dover Greer Steel, a supplier of cold-rolled strip steel, is expanding its headquarters operations in Dover, Ohio, to include full service center capabilities. The expanded facility became operational on March 1. The expansion includes a 13,000-square-foot addition. With the improvements, the Dover facility is now capable of providing all of the products offered through the company's dedicated Ferndale, Mich., service center location. In addition to providing strip and stainless products that historically have been offered directly from the Dover location, Greer can now provide a full range of service center quantities to its customers. This will allow the Dover facility to meet not only the needs of customers with traditional mill quantity releases, but also those requiring smaller quantities, the company claims. The addition to the facility features a new 40,000-pound overhead crane and full radiant floor humidity control for handling and storage of both intermediate processed product and finished goods. This makes the facility well suited for small quantity release and defined stocking programs, the company says. Moreover, this expansion allows Greer to stock a broader range of products in terms of grades, widths, gauges and coil sizes. "We are confident that our new capabilities will provide increased value and flexibility to our customers," said John R. Raese, president and CEO. "Having our service center capabilities incorporated within our Dover complex will improve our efficiency and ability to service our customers and thereby achieve greater customer satisfaction." Wed, 06 Mar 2013 18:03:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:9907 http://www.metalcenternews.com/Editorial/CurrentIssue/CurrentNews/tabid/2524/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/9906/MK-Completes-Rebuild-of-Alabama-Facility-Leveled-by-Tornado.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.metalcenternews.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=2524&ModuleID=13831&ArticleID=9906 http://www.metalcenternews.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=9906&PortalID=51&TabID=2524 http://www.metalcenternews.com/Editorial/CurrentIssue/CurrentNews/tabid/2524/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/9906/MK-Completes-Rebuild-of-Alabama-Facility-Leveled-by-Tornado.aspx March 6, 2013 M/K Completes Rebuild of Alabama Facility Leveled by Tornado Marmon/Keystone Corp. has completed a 105,000-square-foot service center in Alabama. The new facility, located at 105 Goodrich Drive, 10 miles northeast of downtown Birmingham, was rebuilt after the previous building was destroyed by a tornado in January 2012. With the opening, all of the company’s operations have been relocated back to Goodrich Drive from a temporary site on Pinson Valley Parkway. The company says the transition was completed without interruption to sales, service or delivery. The office and warehouse facility features five overhead cranes, three new Amada high-speed band saws and a new DoALL miter saw. These fully automated saws will increase productivity and offer expanded cutting capabilities up to 26-inch OD. The building also includes a steel-reinforced concrete storm shelter. “We are extremely grateful to all of our suppliers and customers. They have been very supportive over the past year,” says Mike Gregory, Birmingham branch manager. “The assistance we received from our fellow Marmon/Keystone team members, especially those at the Atlanta, Houston and Charlotte locations, enabled us to continue providing the superior customer service we are known for at Marmon/Keystone.” Marmon/Keystone’s Birmingham location serves customers in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and the majority of Kentucky and Tennessee. Its major markets include agriculture, automotive, fabrication and heavy equipment. Wed, 06 Mar 2013 18:00:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:9906