http://www.metalcenternews.com RSS feeds for Metal Center News 60 http://www.metalcenternews.com/Editorial/CurrentIssue/CurrentNews/tabid/2524/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/6980/NAM-Report-Claims-Defense-Cuts-Will-Cost-1-Million-Jobs.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.metalcenternews.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=2524&ModuleID=13831&ArticleID=6980 http://www.metalcenternews.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=6980&PortalID=51&TabID=2524 http://www.metalcenternews.com/Editorial/CurrentIssue/CurrentNews/tabid/2524/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/6980/NAM-Report-Claims-Defense-Cuts-Will-Cost-1-Million-Jobs.aspx June 27, 2012 NAM Report Claims Defense Cuts Will Cost 1 Million Jobs The National Association of Manufacturers has released a new report, Defense Spending Cuts: The Impact on Economic Growth and Jobs, that highlights the potential impact defense spending cuts under the Budget Control Act of 2011 will have on U.S. jobs and economic growth. The report’s findings paint a stark picture of the potential harm the BCA budget caps and across-the-board cuts under sequestration will inflict. The effects include a loss of more than 1 million private sector jobs, including 130,000 manufacturing jobs, by 2014. This job loss will increase the unemployment rate by 0.7 percent and decrease GDP by almost 1 percent by 2014. The report shows that the long-lasting effects of these cuts will be felt by not just by the defense equipment supply chain, but also the everyday Americans who are protected by these products. “In a fragile economic recovery, policymakers need to take whatever steps necessary to prevent defense cuts that will cost more than one million jobs,” says NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons. “This report makes it clear that these cuts will punish the businesses that create the cutting-edge products keeping us safe at home and abroad, creating a negative effect on the supply chain between large and small manufacturers. Congress needs to make the tough decisions on spending to address our debt crisis, but these decisions cannot be made at the expense of our economic and national security.” These cuts and the subsequent job loss will be particularly harmful to a wide range of manufacturing industries that are direct and indirect suppliers of defense equipment and supplies, NAM says. The largest losses will be in large nondurables and transport equipment, including the aerospace industry that will lose 3.4 percent of its jobs, the ships and boats industry that will lose 3.3 percent of its jobs, and the search and navigation equipment industry that will lose 9.3 percent of its jobs. Business leaders are already taking steps to reduce payroll to prepare themselves for the cuts ahead. “Manufacturers have been the bright spot in our economic recovery, and these cuts will be a blow to the efforts they’ve made to invest in their business and workforce,” says Della Williams, president and CEO of Williams-Pyro, Inc. “The men and women working in defense manufacturing will bear the brunt of the damage these cuts will inflict on small and medium-sized manufacturers. We can’t risk the loss of jobs, innovation and progress that are at stake here.” Wed, 27 Jun 2012 15:59:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:6980 http://www.metalcenternews.com/Editorial/CurrentIssue/CurrentNews/tabid/2524/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/6979/Aluminum-Steel-Shipments-Increase-in-May.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.metalcenternews.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=2524&ModuleID=13831&ArticleID=6979 http://www.metalcenternews.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=6979&PortalID=51&TabID=2524 http://www.metalcenternews.com/Editorial/CurrentIssue/CurrentNews/tabid/2524/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/6979/Aluminum-Steel-Shipments-Increase-in-May.aspx June 27, 2012 Aluminum, Steel Shipments Increase in May Shipments of aluminum and steel accelerated in May in both the United States and Canada, an improvement from the smaller growth levels shown in April. Inventory positions improved slightly in both countries, according to the Metals Service Center Institute, Rolling Meadows, Ill. U.S. service centers shipped 3.8 million tons of steel products in May, an increase of 9.7 percent from the same month in 2011. For the year to date, steel shipments totaled 18.6 million tons, an increase of 7.5 percent from 2011. Steel product inventories totaled 9.1 million tons at the end of May, an increase of 9.5 percent from last year, but a decline of 0.7 percent from April. At May shipping rates, this represented 2.4 months of supply in inventory. U.S. distributors shipped 136,100 tons of aluminum products in May, up 6.8 percent from the same month in 2011. Year-to-date aluminum shipments totaled 664,200 tons, 5.6 percent higher than 2011. Inventories of aluminum products totaled 385,700 tons at the end of May, an increase of 6.3 percent from the same month in 2011 and up 2.3 percent from April. At May shipping rates, that represented 2.8 months of supply. Canadian service centers shipped 573,100 tons of steel products in May, an increase of 8.5 percent from the same month last year. For the year to date, steel shipments totaled 2.7 million tons, an increase of 2.5 percent from the same period in 2011. Steel product inventories totaled 1.6 million tons at the end of the month, an increase of 7.1 percent from May 2011, but a decrease of 3.0 percent from April. At May shipping rates, that represented 2.9 months of supply in inventory. Distributors in Canada shipped 14,600 tons of aluminum products in May, up 17.2 percent from the same month last year. Year-to-date aluminum shipments totaled 69,800 tons, an increase of 14.2 percent from the first five months of 2011. Aluminum inventories totaled 36,200 tons at the end of May, an increase of 18.4 percent from the same month in 2011 and up 2.6 percent from April. At May shipping rates, that represented 2.5 months supply. Wed, 27 Jun 2012 15:54:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:6979 http://www.metalcenternews.com/Editorial/CurrentIssue/CurrentNews/tabid/2524/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/6978/Electralloy-Schedules-Maintenance-Outage.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.metalcenternews.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=2524&ModuleID=13831&ArticleID=6978 http://www.metalcenternews.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=6978&PortalID=51&TabID=2524 http://www.metalcenternews.com/Editorial/CurrentIssue/CurrentNews/tabid/2524/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/6978/Electralloy-Schedules-Maintenance-Outage.aspx June 27, 2012 Electralloy Schedules Maintenance Outage Pennsylvania-based Electralloy has scheduled its annual maintenance and vacation periods for the weeks of July 22 and July 29. During this stretch, no melt operations will occur. No shipments will occur from either the Oil City melt shop or the Titusville wrought product facility during the week of July 22. Normal shipments will resume during the week of July 29. The company’s sales department will remain open both weeks. Electralloy is a manufacturer of specialty alloys in pigs, ingots, slabs, plate, bars, Nitronic weld wire and billets. Wed, 27 Jun 2012 15:53:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:6978 http://www.metalcenternews.com/Editorial/CurrentIssue/CurrentNews/tabid/2524/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/6977/Tenaris-Plans-15-Billion-Investment-in-US.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.metalcenternews.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=2524&ModuleID=13831&ArticleID=6977 http://www.metalcenternews.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=6977&PortalID=51&TabID=2524 http://www.metalcenternews.com/Editorial/CurrentIssue/CurrentNews/tabid/2524/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/6977/Tenaris-Plans-15-Billion-Investment-in-US.aspx June 27, 2012 Tenaris Plans $1.5 Billion Investment in U.S. Luxembourg-based Tenaris S.A. will expand its U.S. operations to serve the energy industry in the Gulf of Mexico. The $1.5 billion investment is expected to begin operations in 2016 and will be fully integrated with the rest of the company’s U.S. manufacturing and service operations. The company has not announced the location of the proposed mill. The plan includes the installation of a seamless pipe mill, heat treatment and premium threading facilities. The new mill will have an annual production capacity of 650,000 tons of seamless pipes. U.S. market demand for high-quality OCTG and line pipe products is growing rapidly due to the development of unconventional shale reserves and the resumption of deepwater drilling activity in the Gulf of Mexico. The new investment plan will strengthen the company’s local production and service capabilities, allowing it to reduce lead times and serve its U.S. customers with a full range of locally manufactured seamless, welded and premium products, in a market where imported products account for over half of total consumption, say Tenaris officials. Wed, 27 Jun 2012 15:51:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:6977 http://www.metalcenternews.com/Editorial/CurrentIssue/CurrentNews/tabid/2524/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/6976/Nucor-Yamato-Expanding-Piling-Production-at-Blytheville.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.metalcenternews.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=2524&ModuleID=13831&ArticleID=6976 http://www.metalcenternews.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=6976&PortalID=51&TabID=2524 http://www.metalcenternews.com/Editorial/CurrentIssue/CurrentNews/tabid/2524/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/6976/Nucor-Yamato-Expanding-Piling-Production-at-Blytheville.aspx June 27, 2012 Nucor-Yamato Expanding Piling Production at Blytheville Nucor-Yamato Steel Co., a joint venture between Nucor and Yamato Kogyo Co. Ltd., has approved a $115 million plan to expand the production of hot-rolled sheet piling. The project at Nucor's steel mill in Blytheville, Ark., is expected to be completed in early 2014. Upon completion, the project will add several new sheet piling sections, increasing the single sheet widths by 22 percent and providing a lighter, stronger sheet covering more area at a lower installed cost. The new sections will provide Nucor’s piling distributor customers with the broadest range of American-made piling solutions available, Nucor claims. The company’s sheet and H-piling products service applications including marine construction, bridge and highway construction, heavy civil construction, storm protection, underground commercial parking and environment containment projects in the infrastructure and construction industry. "This investment enhances Nucor-Yamato Steel's ability to make innovative, cost-effective sheet piling designs. These investments not only enhance our steel industry leadership status, but most importantly position Nucor to meet the growing demands of our customers," says Daniel R. DiMicco, Nucor's chairman and chief executive officer. Wed, 27 Jun 2012 15:50:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:6976 http://www.metalcenternews.com/Editorial/CurrentIssue/CurrentNews/tabid/2524/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/6975/French-Industrial-Company-Acquires-BMG-Metals.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.metalcenternews.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=2524&ModuleID=13831&ArticleID=6975 http://www.metalcenternews.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=6975&PortalID=51&TabID=2524 http://www.metalcenternews.com/Editorial/CurrentIssue/CurrentNews/tabid/2524/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/6975/French-Industrial-Company-Acquires-BMG-Metals.aspx June 27, 2012 French Industrial Company Acquires BMG Metals Descours and Cabaud Inc., a French industrial and steel distributor, has purchased a controlling interest in BMG Metals Inc., a Richmond, Va.-based steel service center. Descours and Cabaud have more than 560 locations throughout Europe and North America, including Dillon Supply Co., Raleigh, N.C. Though Dillon Supply and BMG will combine strengths to service their industrial customers more efficiently, BMG will continue to operate autonomously as it has since 1963. Bery Gay, BMG’s chief operating officer, and Tom Gay, BMG’s president, will continue managing the day-to-day operations of the company, while Dean Wagoner, vice president at Descours and Cabaud Inc., will oversee all U.S. holdings. “In the coming months, we will examine the synergies between the two businesses and how best to utilize them to make both better. There are countless possibilities on how we can work alongside one another to become more dominant in our respective markets,” Wagoner says. Dillon Supply operates 27 facilities throughout the southeastern U.S., with locations in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Kentucky, Indiana and Tennessee. It sells carbon, stainless and aluminum, plus industrial products. BMG Metals has seven locations covering Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina. It specializes in steel sheet, plate, tubes and shapes. Wed, 27 Jun 2012 15:49:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:6975 http://www.metalcenternews.com/Editorial/CurrentIssue/CurrentNews/tabid/2524/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/6974/MRC-Acquires-Assets-of-Oklahomas-Chaparral-Supply.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.metalcenternews.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=2524&ModuleID=13831&ArticleID=6974 http://www.metalcenternews.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=6974&PortalID=51&TabID=2524 http://www.metalcenternews.com/Editorial/CurrentIssue/CurrentNews/tabid/2524/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/6974/MRC-Acquires-Assets-of-Oklahomas-Chaparral-Supply.aspx June 27, 2012 MRC Acquires Assets of Oklahoma’s Chaparral Supply MRC Global Inc., Houston, plans to acquire Cherokee, Okla.-based Chaparral Supply, LLC, a subsidiary of SandRidge Energy Inc. Chaparral Supply is a provider of pipe, valve and fitting products and oilfield supplies. MRC plans to merge Chaparral’s employees, inventories and other assets with its existing Alva, Okla. service location. As part of the acquisition, to be completed this month, MRC and SandRidge Energy have reached a supply agreement whereby MRC will serve as the primary distributor to SandRidge operations in Oklahoma and Kansas. “We are very pleased with the confidence that SandRidge Energy has shown in MRC,” says James Underhill, MRC chief operating officer-North America. “We look forward to providing value to their operations through our global purchasing strength, efficient processes and local service capabilities in the rapidly growing and strategically important Mississippian Lime formation.” MRC Global, formerly McJunkin Redman, became a public company this year through an initial public offering, and now ranks among the Fortune 500. It ranked as the third-largest metals distributor in North America in Metal Center News’ Top 50 with $3.85 billion in sales in 2010. Wed, 27 Jun 2012 15:48:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:6974 http://www.metalcenternews.com/Editorial/CurrentIssue/CurrentNews/tabid/2524/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/6806/Manufacturing-Sector-Grows-for-34th-Straight-Month.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.metalcenternews.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=2524&ModuleID=13831&ArticleID=6806 http://www.metalcenternews.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=6806&PortalID=51&TabID=2524 http://www.metalcenternews.com/Editorial/CurrentIssue/CurrentNews/tabid/2524/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/6806/Manufacturing-Sector-Grows-for-34th-Straight-Month.aspx June 13, 2012 Manufacturing Sector Grows for 34th Straight Month Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in May for the 34th consecutive month, and the overall economy grew for the 36th consecutive month, say the nation's supply executives in the latest report from the Institute for Supply Management, Tempe, Ariz. The PMI registered 53.5 percent, a decline of 1.3 percentage points from April’s reading. A reading above 50 percent indicates that the manufacturing economy is generally expanding. "The past relationship between the PMI and the overall economy indicates that the average PMI for January through May of 53.6 percent corresponds to a 3.7 percent increase in real gross domestic product. In addition, if the PMI for May is annualized, it also corresponds to a 3.7 percent increase in real GDP annually," says Bradley Holcomb, chairman of ISM’s Manufacturing Business Survey Committee. The New Orders Index continued its growth trend for the 37th consecutive month, registering 60.1 percent in May. That represents an increase of 1.9 percentage points from April, and the highest level recorded since April 2011. A New Orders index over 52.3 percent is generally consistent with an increase in the Census Bureau's series on manufacturing orders. ISM's Production Index registered 55.6 percent in May, a decrease of 5.4 percentage points compared to the 61 percent reported in April. This indicates growth for the 36th consecutive month. An index above 51.2 percent is generally consistent with an increase in the Federal Reserve Board's Industrial Production figures. The Prices Index for raw materials fell to 47.5 percent in May, dropping 13.5 percentage points from April, indicating lower prices for the first time since December 2011. Wed, 13 Jun 2012 14:38:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:6806 http://www.metalcenternews.com/Editorial/CurrentIssue/CurrentNews/tabid/2524/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/6805/Aluminum-Demand-Climbs-in-First-Quarter.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.metalcenternews.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=2524&ModuleID=13831&ArticleID=6805 http://www.metalcenternews.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=6805&PortalID=51&TabID=2524 http://www.metalcenternews.com/Editorial/CurrentIssue/CurrentNews/tabid/2524/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/6805/Aluminum-Demand-Climbs-in-First-Quarter.aspx June 13, 2012 Aluminum Demand Climbs in First Quarter Preliminary estimates of total aluminum demand in the United States and Canada for the first quarter totaled 5.8 million pounds, a 7.5 percent increase over the first quarter of 2011, according to the Aluminum Association, Arlington, Va. Compared to April 2011, net new orders of mill products increased 3.7 percent. A significant increase was seen in demand for semi-fabricated products, which increased 7.9 percent over the first quarter of 2011. Total demand for semi-fabricated products climbed 5.4 percent over March 2011. A 3.0 percent and 12.7 percent increase was seen in March’s demand for sheet and plate and extruded products, respectively. Domestic aluminum production increased slightly in April after slipping in January and February from a two-year continuous upward momentum. Primary production in April rose 2,056 metric tons per year over the March rate. “While most markets are holding steady or beginning to look up, the key drivers are the transportation and electrical sectors,” says Heidi Brock, president of the association. Electrical wire and cable used in building applications and electrical transmission increased 28.8 percent for the first four months of the year. Wed, 13 Jun 2012 14:37:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:6805 http://www.metalcenternews.com/Editorial/CurrentIssue/CurrentNews/tabid/2524/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/6804/May-Delivers-Distressing-New-Jobs-Report.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.metalcenternews.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=2524&ModuleID=13831&ArticleID=6804 http://www.metalcenternews.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=6804&PortalID=51&TabID=2524 http://www.metalcenternews.com/Editorial/CurrentIssue/CurrentNews/tabid/2524/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/6804/May-Delivers-Distressing-New-Jobs-Report.aspx June 13, 2012 May Delivers Distressing New Jobs Report The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the economy added 69,000 net new jobs in May, with manufacturing up just 12,000. “This is another disappointing labor report, which is consistent with recent weaknesses we’ve seen in the global and domestic marketplace,” says National Association of Manufacturers’ Chief Economist Chad Moutray. Several other recent economic indicators have shown growth easing in the spring months. Both manufacturers and consumers are anxious about Europe and uncertain about long-term tax policies, he says. The unemployment rate edged slightly higher to 8.2 percent, up from 8.1 percent in April. Looking at the so-called real unemployment rate, which includes discouraged and underemployed workers, that figure rose from 14.5 percent to 14.8 percent, he says. Manufacturers have increased employment over the past six months by 173,000 net workers, or 16.5 percent of all the nonfarm payroll jobs added during that time. Since the end of 2009, manufacturing has added 487,000 workers. “The sector remains a bright spot, with outsized contributions to both employment and output, but we have to do much better in order to continue to drive economic growth,” Moutray says. “Manufacturers need policies from Washington that will enable them to invest, create jobs and remain competitive against global competition. Currently, they are facing many difficult challenges and headwinds, which are negatively impacting job growth.” Durable goods industries added 13,000 jobs in May, with nondurable companies shedding 1,000. The fastest growth was seen in motor vehicles, up 5,800, fabricated metals, up 5,700, and primary metals, up 3,800. Wed, 13 Jun 2012 14:36:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:6804 http://www.metalcenternews.com/Editorial/CurrentIssue/CurrentNews/tabid/2524/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/6803/RG-Steel-Files-for-Chapter-11-Bankruptcy-Protection.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.metalcenternews.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=2524&ModuleID=13831&ArticleID=6803 http://www.metalcenternews.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=6803&PortalID=51&TabID=2524 http://www.metalcenternews.com/Editorial/CurrentIssue/CurrentNews/tabid/2524/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/6803/RG-Steel-Files-for-Chapter-11-Bankruptcy-Protection.aspx June 13, 2012 RG Steel, the country’s fourth-largest steelmaker, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The filing follows the May decision to idle its three major steelmaking operations. “Despite the company’s aggressive cost-reduction efforts, significant improvements in its cost structure and substantial investment capital, the company has been unable to overcome the impact of the continued deterioration of the market and the inability of the industry to sustain a meaningful recovery,” says John Goodwin, CEO of RG Steel. After an analysis of the company’s liquidity position and available alternatives, management concluded that a voluntary Chapter 11 filing provided the most prudent and effective means of maximizing the value of the core business. “By voluntarily filing for Chapter 11, we will have the opportunity to use the court-supervised process to implement an orderly asset preservation plan and explore other options, including soliciting offers to purchase all or certain of the company’s assets. We have already begun a sales process aimed at maximizing value for all stakeholders and preserving the jobs created when RG Steel acquired these facilities” Goodwin says. Shortly after filing, Wheeling, W.Va.-based recycling company Herman Strauss made a bid on 112 acres of land, plus buildings, equipment and scrap metal, in Steubenville, Ohio. Strauss bid $15 million for the parcel, though other potential bidders have until June 20 to improve on the bid. RG Steel has steelmaking facilities in Sparrows Point, Md.; Warren, Ohio; and Wheeling, W.Va.; plus additional finishing facilities in Yorkville and Martins Ferry, Ohio. In addition, RG Steel owns Wheeling Corrugating Co. and has a 50 percent ownership in Mountain State Carbon and Ohio Coatings Co. Wed, 13 Jun 2012 14:35:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:6803 http://www.metalcenternews.com/Editorial/CurrentIssue/CurrentNews/tabid/2524/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/6801/Republic-Begins-Electric-Arc-Furnace-Construction.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.metalcenternews.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=2524&ModuleID=13831&ArticleID=6801 http://www.metalcenternews.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=6801&PortalID=51&TabID=2524 http://www.metalcenternews.com/Editorial/CurrentIssue/CurrentNews/tabid/2524/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/6801/Republic-Begins-Electric-Arc-Furnace-Construction.aspx June 13, 2012 SBQ-producer Republic Steel has begun construction of a new electric arc furnace and related equipment at its Lorain, Ohio, facility. The company expects the first heat of steel from the new mill to be tapped during the second quarter of 2013. The expansion is designed to meet growing customer demand for the company’s special bar quality steel, driven by the automotive, capital equipment and energy markets. The project will bring 449 new jobs and more than $1 billion dollars in annual economic activity to Ohio. The existing 489 jobs at the Lorain facility will be retained. “This expansion will help us maintain our position as the industry leader in SBQ manufacturing,” says Republic President and CEO Jaime Vigil. “The additional capacity from the new furnace will allow us more flexibility and efficiency in delivering the highly engineered products our customers require.” Republic Steel’s new furnace is expected to increase the company’s liquid steel production by 1.2 million tons annually and will account for Lorain’s first significant growth in steelmaking in the 21st century. The new equipment will supply both Republic’s bloom and billet casters allowing for the production of high-quality SBQ bar and coil from 0.295-inch to 6 1/2-inch diameter, and 6-, 10 1/2-, 11 5/8-, 12 1/4- and 13 1/2-inch diameter seamless tube rounds. Features of the new modern electric arc furnace include: a 150-ton heat size, eccentric bottom tapping, an exchangeable upper/lower shell, a 120/135 MVA furnace transformer, current conducting arms, oxy fuel burners, carbon and lime injection systems, a temperature/sampling system, and level 1 and level 2 automation. Wed, 13 Jun 2012 14:33:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:6801 http://www.metalcenternews.com/Editorial/CurrentIssue/CurrentNews/tabid/2524/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/6800/Survey-Shows-American-Manufacturing-is-Alive-and-Well.aspx#Comments 0 http://www.metalcenternews.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=2524&ModuleID=13831&ArticleID=6800 http://www.metalcenternews.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=6800&PortalID=51&TabID=2524 http://www.metalcenternews.com/Editorial/CurrentIssue/CurrentNews/tabid/2524/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/6800/Survey-Shows-American-Manufacturing-is-Alive-and-Well.aspx June 13, 2012 Buoyed by growth and confident in their futures, American manufacturers are laying out an agenda for restoring their industry to its earlier glory, according to results of ThomasNet.com’s newest Industry Market Barometer. Overwhelmingly, they are pushing to revitalize the American manufacturing sector by creating jobs at home, doing business with U.S. suppliers and expressing pride in the quality of products that are “Made in America.” More than 3,700 buyers and suppliers of industrial products and services, including more than 1,600 professionals from manufacturing companies, participated in the latest IMB survey. The research looked at their performance during 2011, their outlook for 2012, and their growth strategies. “Manufacturers know that they do more than sell products or provide services; they play a vital role in the growth of the American economy,” says Eileen Markowitz, president of Thomas Industrial Network. “Their success is critical to the success of America. And as we can see from this report, the future is looking bright for all of us.” According to the survey, nearly half of all respondents (46 percent) grew in 2011, and 70 percent expect their companies to grow in 2012. Twenty-five percent expect business to stay the same this year, while only 5 percent forecast declines. They attribute expected growth to a wide variety of strategies, including a focus on customer retention and service, competing more aggressively in core markets, developing innovative new products and pursuing new business in the U.S. and overseas. Top projected growth markets in 2012 include: fabricated metals, aerospace and defense, automotive, energy/utilities, construction and medical equipment/instrumentation. This level of growth is igniting a new wave of investments among manufacturers preparing to meet future demand. They (83 percent) are spending on capital equipment, hardware, software and facilities in order to increase production capacity, upgrading their plants, and developing new products and services. In addition, nearly half of these manufacturers (48 percent) are hiring, with openings for line workers, skilled trade workers and engineers. But for many manufacturers, finding the best people to fill these new positions is far from assured. IMB respondents lament the skilled labor shortage and stress the importance of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) curricula in the schools. In addition to the labor issue, manufacturers point to pricing pressures and overseas competition as challenges to growth. China’s ability to pay lower wages and charge less for products is a thorn in the side for many. In response, some U.S. manufacturing companies are promoting the quality of their “Made in America” brands as a way to combat offshoring. Respondents to ThomasNet.com’s IMB are also capitalizing on America’s reputation for quality by ramping up their exports. Nearly 7 out of 10 (67 percent) are selling overseas, and more than one-third (37 percent) plan to increase their international sales. To reach new clients, overseas and at home, nearly nine out of 10 respondents (86 percent) are investing in online marketing this year, and more than half (52 percent) are increasing these investments. They report that their websites have helped them find new sources of business, improve customer service and increase revenues. With successes like these, manufacturers are bullish on their own careers. More than three-fourths say they would “do it all over again” if they were just starting out. They want younger generations to appreciate manufacturing, too. As one respondent notes: “There is excitement to be found in creating something tangible, from engineering and design to the finished product.” Wed, 13 Jun 2012 14:31:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:6800