Market Segment
April 8, 2024
Written by Laura Miller
Martin Lindqvist will be stepping down as president and CEO of Swedish steelmaker SSAB.
The company has begun the recruitment process to find a replacement. Lindqvist agreed to stay on as leader until a successor has been named.
The United Steelworkers (USW) union will resume in-person bargaining with U.S. Steel on Monday. The move comes after the USW said it received an updated contract proposal from the Pittsburgh-based steelmaker on Tuesday. “While we had meaningful discussion with the company, there is still much work to be done,” the USW said in a text to members on Wednesday. “The rest of this week, we will be working on a counter and looking to get answers about some of the proposals USS made,” the union added.
A steel supply constraint is affecting some production schedules at Nissan North America, the automaker confirmed to SMU. The confirmation followed a Friday report by WLBT3 News that the constraint was affecting production at Nissan’s Canton, Miss., plant. SMU asked whether the issue was affecting other facilities. “Nissan continues to manage a steel supply constraint affecting some of our production schedules,” a company spokesperson said in an email to SMU on Wednesday, Oct. 21. Nissan is working with its supplier and taking steps to limit disruption to employees, dealers, and customers, the spokesperson added. The company provided no further details.
Behlen Mfg. Co. announced the closure of its Behlen Building Systems manufacturing facility in Sarasota, Fla. The company cited high production costs in the Southeast US, higher material and freight costs, and its commitment to operating efficiently and remaining competitive. Behlen expects the closure to be completed by Dec. 18. A Florida WARN notification shows 55 employees will be affected. “This was a difficult decision, particularly because of the impact it will have on our employees in Sarasota,” said CEO Tom Boal in a statement. “We are grateful for the dedication, hard work, and contributions of our Sarasota team. While the decision to close a facility is never easy, we must continue making strategic decisions that strengthen our operations and position Behlen for long-term success.”
Alro Steel has opened a new, 245,000-square foot facility in Oviedo, Fla., a suburb of Orlando, Fla. The Jackson, Mich.-based service center said the new location would allow it to better serve the Orlando market. The company said the new facility will allow its original location in Orlando, established in 1982, to focus on plate processing. The Oviedo location “significantly increases Alro’s local inventory and processing capacity, providing customers with greater product availability, expanded processing options, and faster shipments,” Alro said in a press release posted earlier this week.
Nucor Corp. announced a $60 million investment to expand its Towers & Structures facility in Trinity, Ala., to increase production of steel poles and other structures for utility infrastructure. The Towers & Structures manufacturing facility, which began operating in September 2025, is adjacent to the Nucor Steel Decatur flat-rolled mill. The expansion will add production capacity, laydown space, and a dedicated galvanizing inspection area, the company said. "Utilities across the country are making significant investments to strengthen and modernize the nation's power grid," remarked Nucor Chair and CEO Leon Topalian. "By expanding our Trinity facility adjacent to our Decatur sheet mill, we can combine American-made steel with highly efficient manufacturing to better serve our utility customers and support their long-term infrastructure needs. “