Steel Mills
ArcelorMittal Indiana Harbor Idles #2 Galvanizing Line
Written by Sandy Williams
December 7, 2014
ArcelorMittal has idled the Indiana Harbor West No. 2 galvanizing line and plans to shut down the electric arc furnace at Indiana Harbor Long Carbon.
Employees were told that the No 1 aluminizing line at ArcelorMittal Indiana Harbor West is also under consideration for shutdown as the company shifts production to AM/NS Calvert in Alabama.
Production from the EAF will be replaced by steel sourced from ArcelorMittal sister plants in Canada and Germany. Steelworkers at the company said the Canada and Germany facilities are producing billets used for construction projects for $150-$200 less per unit than Indiana Harbor.
According to the employees at the facilities, the 250 workers who operate the EAF and 100 workers on the aluminizing line would be reassigned and/or retrained for operations elsewhere in the steel mill facility.
“ArcelorMittal continues to focus on increasing the efficiency of our facilities and the productivity of our workforce, and we appreciate the support of the United Steelworkers in this journey,” said a company spokesperson. “Realities such as the rise of imports, increasing competition within key domestic markets, and high legacy costs require a long-term strategy that will eliminate inefficiencies and thus create a sustainable business through the ups and downs of the business cycle.”
“ArcelorMittal is committed to running our most cost-competitive assets at world-class production levels with no loss of overall volume or market share,” continued the spokesperson. “In 2013, ArcelorMittal announced the idling of Indiana Harbor’s westside finishing operations. Steel production output and employees were absorbed by the facility’s eastside finishing operations. The consolidation of these operations supports our long-term strategy of ensuring a sustainable future for the facility, our workforce and the community.
“While we continue to evaluate opportunities to further enhance productivity and efficiency throughout North America, no decision has been made on Indiana Harbor’s aluminizing line. ArcelorMittal is in direct conversation with USW Local 1010 on the future of Indiana Harbor Long Carbon’s electric arc furnace.”
Sandy Williams
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