Steel Mills
McKeesport Tubular to Re-Open Under New Owner
Written by Sandy Williams
January 14, 2017
The idled US Steel McKeesport Tubular mill in Pennsylvania is coming back to life in 2017. Dura-Bond Industries, a pipe manufacturer and coater headquartered in Export, PA, has leased the mill and plans to restart production after approval and upgrades are made.
Jason Norris, president of Dura-Bond, confirmed the purchase of equipment from US Steel and an option-to-buy lease from land and building owner Regional Industrial Development Corp.
“Our focus is going to be a domestic mill using domestic feedstock,” said Norris. Flat rolled steel used to produce tubular steel for the energy industry will be sourced from US Steel, ArcelorMittal USA and other U.S. suppliers, said Norris.
“More than 50% of the oil and gas pipe used in the USA comes from overseas and that must change” said Norris.
About 100 workers will be hired to restart the plant which Norris hopes will be possible within six to nine months. RIDC reports Dura-Bond plans to hire more than 200 workers in total.
McKeesport Tubular was indefinitely idled in 2014 following a surge of low priced imports and a downturn in the oil and gas industry. At the time the plant employed around 160 workers.
Founded in 1960, the family-owned Dura-Bond Industries is headquartered in Export, PA where it fabricates structural steel for the marine and heavy highway markets. The company also offers protective specialty coatings for steel products at its Steelton and Duquesne locations. Dura-Bond is API approved for steel pipe manufacturing, holds AISC Level II certification for steel fabrication and is SSPC certified for the application of protective coatings to steel products.
Sandy Williams
Read more from Sandy WilliamsLatest in Steel Mills
U.S. Steel sues Algoma over iron pellet shipments
U.S. Steel is suing Algoma over the Canadian flat-rolled producer's rejection of iron pellet shipments, arguing it has breached its contract.
August US mill shipments slip but still higher than last year
The American Iron and Steel Institute reported a decline in the monthly shipments of US mills from July to August.
TransPod, Algoma, Supreme Steel linkup anchors Canadian steel in high-speed transit build
The three Canadian companies have announced a strategic partnership to support the development of an ultra-high-speed transit line from Edmonton to Calgary.
Metallus, USW agree to tentative four-year labor deal
Metallus and the United Steelworkers (USW) have agreed to a tentative four-year labor contract.
ArcelorMittal Dofasco resumes cokemaking after emergency maintenance
The Canadian steelmaker reported on Sept. 30 that “urgent maintenance” was needed in its coke plant off-gas systems. The work required coke oven gas from the No. 2 coke plant to be flared for most of that week.