Steel Mills

Chinese Refractory Maker Plans Facility in Kentucky
Written by Tim Triplett
June 22, 2020
PRCO America, Inc., a Chinese company that manufactures refractory brick used by steel mills to line their furnaces and transfer ladles, plans to open their first U.S. facility, in Graves County, Ky., by the end of the year.
The western Kentucky location was chosen for its proximity to many steel mills, as well as to shipping access on the Mississippi river. The company will produce custom-sized resin-bonded magnesia graphite refractory brick for mills in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
PRCO America is a division of China’s Puyang Refractories Group Co. The company received a tax incentive to locate the $5.5 million facility in the state of Kentucky, creating 32 jobs.
–Reporting by Alice Buro

Tim Triplett
Read more from Tim TriplettLatest in Steel Mills

AISI: Raw steel production drops to multi-month low
After being historically strong for more than four months, US raw steel production fell for a second week.

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.