Steel Mills

SMS to Purchase Building Near Big River Steel
Written by Sandy Williams
February 20, 2015
German steel company SMS is awaiting confirmation from Arkansas state officials to purchase the former Beckmann Volmer building in Osceola, Arkansas. SMS will supply approximately $600 million of steel mill equipment for the future Big River Steel mill.
SMS, a provider of integrated systems for the processing of steel and metals, will supply all plants and equipment for Big River, including the mechanical, electrical and automation systems and the coil logistics.
The building was originally constructed for Beckmann Volmer, a service-engineering company specializing in the production of steel construction for high-tech industries such as manufacture of wind turbines. The state, county and city all contributed funds toward construction of the building to attract Beckmann Volmer to the area to complement the Jonesboro’s Nordex wind turbine facility. Nordex left the region and Beckmann Volmer followed. Osceola and Mississippi county had contributed a combined $5 million to the construction with the state of Arkansas supplying the rest.
Osceola Mayor Dickie Kennemore said funds could not be fully recouped but jobs created by Big River and SMS for the region were worth the loss.

Sandy Williams
Read more from Sandy WilliamsLatest in Steel Mills

Steel Summit: Schneider sees SDI ‘on the edge of a very good run’
Steel Dynamics Inc. (SDI) President and Chief Operating Officer, Barry Schneider, remains bullish about the Fort Wayne, Ind.-based steelmaker’s position in the current market.

Steel Summit: Burritt says USS and Nippon are fast-tracking modern steelmaking
U.S. Steel President and CEO David Burritt told audiences at SMU's Steel Summit 2025 that the iconic American steelmaker’s partnership with Nippon Steel is fast-tracking smarter steel production.

Nucor moves to stop HRC price slide with $10/ton hike
Nucor is attempting to halt the decline in hot-rolled coil prices with the announcement of a $10-per-short-ton increase in its weekly consumer spot price on Monday.

Explosion rocks ArcelorMittal’s DR plant in Mexico
ArcelorMittal reported a "strong" explosion at the direct reduction part of its massive Lazaro Cardenas mill in Mexico.

SDI to acquire remaining stake in New Process Steel
Steel Dynamics Inc. (SDI) announced that it has agreed to acquire the remaining 55% equity interest in New Process Steel.