CRU: Grupo Simec Shuts Two Republic Steel Mills For Good

A company lawyer has since told Ohio’s attorney general’s office that the closure is permanent. The office described the information as confidential but critical to share because of ongoing settlement negotiations of the state’s air pollution case against the company, local newspaper, The Canton Repository, reported.

Simec has insisted that Republic Steel, as the only producer of leaded steel in North America, took many steps over the years to remain compliant with ever-changing environmental regulations, particularly related to air quality. But continuing to produce in facilities up to 125 years old proved to be too challenging.

Therefore, the Guadalajara, Mexico-headquartered group transferred its leaded steel production to a new, state-of-the-art mill in Tlaxcala, central Mexico. The rest of Canton’s and Lackawanna’s output of SBQ, rod, wire, rebar, and other long products were also moved there during the initial idling.