The Steel Dynamics, Inc. board of directors has approved an expansion of the company’s Engineered Bar Products Division in Pittsboro, Ind.
The expansion is intended to increase the facility's capacity to produce special-bar-quality (SBQ) steel bars while also expanding the mill's product offerings of high-quality small-diameter SBQ bars. Upon completion of the expansion, the mill's overall annual production capacity is expected to be increased some 52%, from 625,000 tons to 950,000 tons. With this additional capacity, the company's Engineered Bar Products Division would be among the largest single-site SBQ production facilities in North America.
The principal modification to the mill is the planned addition of a second rolling line that will permit concurrent production of small-diameter precision and larger-diameter bars. The expanded plant also will feature numerous enhancements to the facility's rolling mill for the production of precision sized bars, as well as improvements in material handling and staging. The company also plans to expand the mill's bar finishing capabilities for non-destructive testing of finished bars, potentially doubling its inspection capacity.
"We are excited to announce this growth initiative," said Mark D. Millett, CEO. "This investment will allow us to further expand and diversify our value-added product portfolio in a capital-efficient manner. Our customers have encouraged us to expand our product offerings as a means of further establishing the Pittsboro facility as a "one-stop shop" for all of their SBQ needs.
“Since start-up in 2004, our Engineered Bar Product's team has partnered with a variety of customers to supply them with high-quality SBQ products,” continued Millet. “Our team has achieved a reputation for on-time performance, flexibility in scheduling, and consistent high quality. With this new investment, we expect to be able to build on that reputation. We plan to continue to offer these service and quality benefits, along with a broader product portfolio to our existing customers, and we look forward to establishing relationships with new customers.
The company believes that the expansion can be accomplished with no disruption to existing operations, as the new line is essentially separate from current operations. Billets for the new rolling mill are expected to be supplied by existing capacity at the Pittsboro meltshop as well as high-quality production from the company's Structural and Rail Division.
The increased production capacity will be focused on small-diameter precision SBQ bars (1 to 3 inch). These smaller diameter bars are used in a variety of transportation, industrial, energy, and automotive applications. With these products, the company expects to be able to substantially increase its penetration of the markets for SBQ products in the U.S.
Subject to the anticipated receipt of necessary permits, which the company expects to be forthcoming in short order, and the receipt of state and local government support, the project is scheduled to be completed in the second half of 2013 and to cost approximately $76 million.
Steel Dynamics is one of the largest domestic steel producers and metals recyclers in the United States based on estimated annual steelmaking and metals recycling capability, with annual sales of $8.0 billion in 2011 and 6,500 employees. The company operates manufacturing facilities primarily located throughout the United States (five steel mills, six steel processing facilities, two iron production facilities, over 70 metals recycling locations and six steel fabrication plants).