Steel Products
Nucor to Build Merchant Bar Mill
Written by Tim Triplett
November 17, 2017
Nucor Corp. plans to invest $180 million in a full-range merchant bar quality mill at its existing bar steel mill in Bourbonnais, Ill. The MBQ mill, which will take two years to complete, will have an annual capacity of 500,000 tons.
The Midwest region is one of the largest markets for MBQ products, and Nucor plans to take advantage of its existing operating and commercial capabilities to meet this regional demand. The MBQ project will allow Nucor to fully utilize the company’s existing bar mill by optimizing its melt capacity and infrastructure. It will also take advantage of an abundant scrap supply in the region. Nucor Steel Kankakee, Inc. will continue to be a supplier of quality reinforcing bar products, the company said.
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“This new MBQ mill takes advantage of our position as a low-cost producer to displace tons currently being supplied by competitors outside the region. It also builds on our market leadership position by further enhancing our product offerings of merchant bar, light shapes and structural angle and channel in markets in the central U.S.,” said John Ferriola, Chairman, CEO and President of Nucor.

Tim Triplett
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