Market Segment
Liberty Steel to Idle Georgetown Steelworks
Written by Sandy Williams
April 22, 2020
Liberty Steel will idle its Georgetown steelworks for at least three months. The facility will be placed under care and maintenance in order to reopen quickly when the market improves. Wire rod orders will be filled by Liberty’s steelworks in Peoria, Ill.
“Since the outbreak of COVID-19, we have seen demand for our products soften considerably and therefore we need to rebalance our production with forecast demand,” said Gregory Jones, CEO of Liberty Steel USA. “This is a difficult decision, which hasn’t been taken lightly. A small number of employees will remain on site to ensure that the mill is fully maintained, and we will re-evaluate the position in three months’ time.”
Approximately 130 employees and contractors will be temporarily laid off or deployed. A small staff will remain to manage care and maintenance.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has caused disruption across U.S. industry and our customers are no exception. Like the rest of America, we are hopeful that the virus can be brought under control swiftly,” added Jones. “In spite of the pandemic, we continue to work closely with the city, state and other stakeholders on a long-term plan for Liberty Steel Georgetown and believe there is a positive future for the steelworks.”
Sandy Williams
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