Steel Products
Ladle Spill Causes Fire at AK Steel Middletown
Written by Sandy Williams
January 20, 2018
AK Steel has confirmed that a ladle used in the steelmaking process at the company’s Middletown Works malfunctioned around 8 a.m. this (Saturday) morning, releasing liquid steel into the facility. The spill caused a fire that drew crews from four area fire departments who worked for over two hours to contain the blaze.
A spokesperson for AK Steel said all employees are accounted for and none suffered any injuries from the incident. Cleanup efforts are under way. “We are looking into the cause of the situation and have no further information at this time,” the company said.
Heavy smoke was reported coming from an AK Steel structure in the 3400 block of Lefferson Road in Middletown, Ohio, around 8:30 a.m. The fire was under control around 11 a.m. One firefighter with the Middletown Fire Department suffered minor injuries, according to local press reports.

Sandy Williams
Read more from Sandy WilliamsLatest in Steel Products

Construction Spending Up in August: AGC
Construction spending in the US increased in August, according to the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC).

USS Slates Layoffs at Granite City Works
U.S. Steel is laying off ~300 workers at its Granite City Works in Illinois, a company spokeswoman told SMU on Tuesday.

AISI: Raw Steel Production Shifts Down
US raw steel output took a downward turn during the week ending Sept. 30, according to data released by the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) on Monday, Oct. 2.

GM Lays Off Workers in Ohio and Indiana, Cites UAW Strike
General Motors has announced layoffs at its Parma Metal Center in Ohio and Marion Metal Center in Indiana as a result of the ongoing United Auto Workers (UAW) strike.

Rig Count Drops in the US, Inches Up in Canada
The number of active oil and gas drilling rigs in the US dropped this week while Canada’s count increased by one, said oilfield services company Baker Hughes in its weekly report.