Steel News

Posco Named to Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes

01 September 2005 - Posco was recently selected by Dow Jones and Swiss SAM (Sustainable Asset Management) as a leading company for sustainability in the steel industry.

Arcelor Closes Acquisition of Huta Lucchini Warszawa

01 September 2005 - The closing of the acquisition by Arcelor of Lucchini's crude steel production asset in Poland as well as Lucchini's Polish scrap companies Silscrap and Crapex was recently signed in Warsaw, Poland. The closing completes a transaction initiated on February 17th, 2005, with the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding between Arcelor and the Lucchini Group and follows the approval given by the competition authorities.

ThyssenKrupp Steel Confirms Major Fire at Electrolytic Coating Line

01 September 2005 - ThyssenKrupp Steel confirmed the outbreak of fire on Electrolytic Coating Line No. 2 (EBA 2) at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday evening, September 14.

Mittal Steel Announces European Price Increases for Fourth Quarter

01 September 2005 - Mittal Steel Co. NV announced price rises for Mittal Steel Europe for the fourth quarter of 2005.

ThyssenKrupp Stahl to Increase Carbon Flat Products Prices

01 September 2005 - ThyssenKrupp Stahl AG will raise its prices for carbon flat steel products by €20 – €30/t in the 4th quarter of 2005.

Mittal Enters Mining Development Agreement with Government of Liberia

01 September 2005 - Mittal Steel Co. NV has entered into a Mining Development Agreement with the Government of Liberia. Once it has been ratified, the agreement will give Mittal Steel access to about 1 billion tonnes of rich iron ore reserves in Western Liberia.

Posco Establishes Foundation for Social Responsibility

01 September 2005 - Posco recently established the "Posco TJ Park Foundation" as part of its effort to expand its social contribution activities. It will be managed with KRW 100 billion and aims to fulfill Posco's social responsibilities as a sustainable company.

Arcelor Signs Global Agreement with Trade Union Federations

01 September 2005 - Arcelor has signed a worldwide agreement on principles of corporate social responsibility with the International Metalworkers' Federation (IMF) and the European Metalworkers' Federation (EMF). The global steelmaker is the first company in the steel industry to sign such an agreement.

Steelworkers Vote to Strike if Necessary Against Heico-Ivaco

01 September 2005 - United Steelworkers Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser announced results of a strike vote by members of Locals 8794 and 7940 at the Heico-owned former Ivaco steelmaking facility in Hawkesbury. Results of the vote were 99.5% in the meltshop and 96% in the rod mill, in favor of strike action if necessary by the deadline of September 16.

Environmental Investigation Initiated at Former Armco Site

31 August 2005 - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 announced that an environmental investigation, which is the first stage of a cleanup project, has begun at the Hamilton Armco site in New Miami, Ohio.

AK Steel to Increase Prices for Precipitation Hardening Steels

31 August 2005 - AK Steel announced that it will increase base prices of its Precipitation Hardening (PH) stainless steel products by approximately 10%, effective with shipments on and after September 19, 2005.

EPA Cites WCI Steel for Clean Air Violations

31 August 2005 - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 has cited WCI Steel Inc. for alleged clean-air violations at the company's iron and steel plant in Warren, Ohio.

USS Granite City Works Earns Ford Q1 Certification

31 August 2005 - United States Steel Corp.’s Granite City Works has earned Ford Motor Co.'s Bulk Materials Q1 quality certification.

Stainless Steel Imports Continue to Outpace 2004 Totals

31 August 2005 - Total stainless steel imports climbed to 344,014 tons through the first six months of 2005 — a 15% increase compared to the same period in 2004 — according to the latest data released by the Specialty Steel Industry of North America (SSINA). As imports climbed, U.S. consumption remained steady at 1,168,282 tons, 3% below domestic consumption for the first six months of 2004.

AK Steel, Steelworkers Agree to Extend Ashland Contract

31 August 2005 - AK Steel Corp. and the United Steelworkers of America (USW) have agreed to extend all the terms and conditions of their current labor agreement to September 11, 2005. Originally scheduled to expire on Thursday, September 1, 2005, the contract covers about 750 hourly production and maintenance employees of Local 1865 at the Ashland Works in Kentucky.

Praxair Licenses CoJet Technology for WCI Steel BOF

30 August 2005 - Praxair, Inc. has signed a licensing agreement with WCI Steel, Inc. for use of Praxair's patented CoJet(R) gas injection system in their basic oxygen furnace.

Quanex Reports Fiscal 3rd Quarter Results

26 August 2005 - Quanex Corp. reported record income from continuing operations of $45.0 million on record net sales of $98.8 million for the fiscal third quarter. Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations were $1.71, a third quarter record and more than double year ago quarterly results of $0.82.

Ipsco to Expand Pipe Mill Operations

26 August 2005 - Ipsco announced it will expand the current oil country tubular goods (OCTG) heat treat capacity at its Calgary, Alberta plant. The expansion will begin immediately and is expected to be fully implemented before year-end. Annual capacity of the Calgary heat treat facility will be increased by more than 70%.

Nucor Auburn Recommits to Environmental Performance Program

25 August 2005 - Nucor Steel Auburn Inc., Auburn, N.Y., is one of 32 facilities renewing their three-year membership in the EPA’s National Environmental Performance Track Program by continuing to meet the program's criteria and committing to new environmental goals. As part of its environmental initiatives, Nucor Auburn has committed to the use of scrap tires in its production of steel, which will help the facility reduce its use of coal by more than 500 tons.

Carpenter to Raise Stainless Steel Strip Prices

23 August 2005 - Carpenter Technology Corp.’s Specialty Alloys Operations unit announced that it will increase base prices 10 percent on all precipitation hardening stainless steels in strip form.