“We're extremely excited by the physical production and quality capability of the mill today, especially this early in the start-up, and we're focused on achieving operational and quality consistency,” Steel Dynamics chief executive officer Mark Millett told analysts during the company’s first quarter earnings call on Tuesday. 

Millett said SDI’s hot band aluminum has received certifications from multiple customers in the industrial and beverage container sectors as well as in automotive. Certifications for finished automotive parts made from its aluminum could be coming soon, perhaps in the coming weeks, Millett said.

“This accelerated certification should allow us to shift our product mix to a higher-margin mix this year, reaching the planned optimized mix of 45% can sheet, 35% automotive and 20% industrial sometime in 2027,” he said.  

Millett said the hot side of the aluminum operation is now fully operational, and the last of four preheat furnaces will be in service at the end of the second quarter.Two of three cold mills are now ramping up operations and producing prime product, he added.

The third mill is expected to begin producing in the third quarter of this year.

The automotive material out for qualification is being produced on the first of two automotive continuous anneal and solution heat treat (CASH) lines.

“The team has brought that particular line on an absolute record speed, and it truly is testimony to the team we have there,” Millett said.