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    Analysis

    November 11, 2025

    Final Thoughts

    Written by Stephen Miller

    The electric-arc furnace (EAF) is considered a new technology by many people in the steel and scrap trade. As the US continues its transition away from traditional steelmaking methods to the EAF method, few realize the EAF is actually much older than it appears.

    The EAF has its roots in the 19th century. Its concept and experimentation dates back to the early 1800s when Sir Humphrey Davy did an experimental demonstration. Then in 1878 William Siemens patented electric furnaces of the arc type. The first commercial EAF was established in 1907 in Syracuse, N.Y. This furnace is currently on display at Station Square in Pittsburgh.

    Stephen Miller

    Stephen Miller started his career in the scrap metal industry in 1978 at Luria Brothers in Cleveland. Over the last 40-plus years, he has worked in all capacities in the trading business. He has had positions in both domestic and international scrap trading. In addition to scrap, Miller was at the forefront of the pig iron trade and established a pig iron distribution company under the name of Ferrosource, Inc. Most recently, Miller has concentrated on the scrap export market and regularly does consulting for several companies in the industry.

    Read more from Stephen Miller

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