“This is a very exciting day for our company," Pacific Steel Group chief executive officer Eric Benson said in a statement. "It represents a culmination of nearly five years of work and is the first tangible step toward full vertical integration of our reinforcing steel operations.”

The 380,000-ton Danieli rebar micro-mill is being built in Kern County, about 90 miles north of Los Angeles. It will feature a continuous scrap charging system, automated overhead cranes, melting platform robotics and a single-strand caster.

 "Pacific Steel Group’s investment in Kern County is more than just the construction of a steel mill — it’s a transformational step forward for our local economy and workforce," said Kern County supervisor Chris Parlier. "The Mojave micro-mill represents the future of American manufacturing, producing seismic-grade, green rebar right here in Kern County."