Big River Steel Flex Mill to produce hot rolled steel one inch thick, 78 inches wide
December 23, 2016
Source:
Big River Steel, Osceola, Ark., announces that it has begun operations in the first steel mill in North America to connect an electric arc furnace to a Ruhrstahl Heraeus degasser, and will be the only EAF mill in the United States to produce hot rolled steel as thick as one inch and as wide as 78 inches. Based on the technology and the design of the facility, the mill will reportedly produce a range of material dimensions and strength levels never before produced in an EAF mill.
The company says this is the world's first Flex Mill melt shop and hot mill. These are the third and fourth areas of the mill to be commissioned following the batch anneal facility and temper mill. The first hot-rolled coil was purchased by Zekelman Industries and will be sent to Atlas Tube, one of the company's structural tube mills in Blytheville, Arkansas. Zekelman Industries purchased the coil for $100,000 with the entire amount jointly contributed by Big River and Zekelman Industries to Wounded Warrior Project and Arkansas Northeastern College.
Under construction since July 2014, Big River is commissioning some of the world's newest steelmaking technology and will recycle approximately two million tons of scrap metal and other metallics to produce 1.6 million tons of finished steel products annually.
www.bigriversteel.com
Big River Steel, Osceola, Ark., announces that it has begun operations in the first steel mill in North America to connect an electric arc furnace to a Ruhrstahl Heraeus degasser, and will be the only EAF mill in the United States to produce hot rolled steel as thick as one inch and as wide as 78 inches.
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Nucor to acquire Southland Tube for its high-strength steel hollow tubing
December 7, 2016
Source:
Nucor Corp., Charlotte, N.C., has agreed to acquire Southland Tube, an independent manufacturer of hollow structural section steel tubing, because "It is an excellent fit for our Nucor family and our strategy for profitable growth," said John Ferriola, Chairman, CEO and President of Nucor. Cost was $130 million, or approximately eight times average EBITDA over the 2011-2016 period.
"The acquisition of Southland Tube complements our recent acquisition of Independence Tube in the HSS steel tubing market., added Mr. Ferriola. "We see this market as a great opportunity to leverage Nucor's capabilities and strengths while also adding to our portfolio of products and services for our customers."
HSS is used in a broad array of structural and mechanical applications, including nonresidential construction, infrastructure, and heavy equipment end-use markets. Southland Tube has one facility located in Birmingham, Alabama, which is well situated to serve the HSS market.
With annual shipments of about 240,000 tons, Southland Tube has the third largest market share in HSS steel tubing.
Through the acquisitions of Independence Tube and Southland Tube, Nucor is building a market leadership position in the HSS steel tubing market and providing an additional channel to market for Nucor's sheet steel mills. In 2006, 8% of Nucor's total steel mill shipments were to its downstream businesses. The company expects that number to grow to about 20% with these acquisitions.
www.nucor.com
Nucor Corp., Charlotte, N.C., has agreed to acquire Southland Tube, an independent manufacturer of hollow structural section steel tubing, because “It is an excellent fit for our Nucor family and our strategy for profitable growth,” said John Ferriola, Chairman, CEO and President of Nucor.
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Thermo-Calc and QuesTek partner for advanced modeling and materials design
October 28, 2016
Source: ASM International
Thermo-Calc Software AB, Stockholm, and QuesTek International LLC, Evanston, Ill., have partnered to establish a joint company, QuesTek Europe AB, which will offer Integrated Computational Materials Engineering modeling services and novel materials design and development to the European market.
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Texas university receives grant to develop stronger concrete rebar
October 13, 2016
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The University of Texas at San Antonio announces that its researchers have received a $248,083 grant to support R&D to increase the strength of concrete rebar. The grant comes from a consortium of construction-oriented agencies: the Charles Pankow Foundation, the Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute, and the American Concrete Institute.
"The bulk of all construction in the world is concrete-based," says Wassim Ghannoum, director of the research and associate professor of civil and environmental engineering. "Concrete is very strong in compression, but very weak in tension. You can easily just crack it. The steel rebar takes the tension loads."
Rebar in use today first became common in the 1940s, and the most widely used type had a tensile strength of 40 ksi. In the 1960s, American construction moved to 60 ksi bars, which have been the standard ever since. Now, Prof. Ghannoum is testing new rebar with tensile strength up to 100 ksi , to determine if it could become the new standard.
"We're going to hone in on exact properties," he said. "Above all, we want to know the exact strengths of the steels we develop, as well as their ability to resist breakage, and their functional lifetimes." He also noted that in Texas, where a large portion of the rebar used in U.S. construction projects is forged, switching to a stronger steel could have positive environmental effects. Since sturdier rebar means less of it will be needed in construction, the energy saved could be considerable
Prof. Ghannoum is set to begin the two-year project this fall, with a small group of UTSA graduate students to aid him. He's working with the five largest steel mills in the United States to establish specifications for 80 and 100-grade bars, which will entail a good deal of testing. Ann ultrasonic testing machine to help simulate a host of conditions, including earthquakes, will soon be on the way to Ghannoum's laboratory.
www.utsa.edu
The University of Texas at San Antonio announces that its researchers have received a $248,083 grant to support R&D to increase the strength of concrete rebar.
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Texas university receives grant to develop high-strength concrete rebar
Source:
The University of Texas at San Antonio announces that its researchers have received a $248,083 grant to support R&D to increase the strength of concrete rebar. The grant comes from a consortium of construction-oriented agencies: the Charles Pankow Foundation, the Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute, and the American Concrete Institute.
"The bulk of all construction in the world is concrete-based," says Wassim Ghannoum, director of the research and associate professor of civil and environmental engineering. "Concrete is very strong in compression, but very weak in tension. You can easily just crack it. The steel rebar takes the tension loads."
Rebar in use today first became common in the 1940s, and the most widely used type had a tensile strength of 40 ksi. In the 1960s, American construction moved to 60 ksi bars, which have been the standard ever since. Now, Prof. Ghannoum is testing new rebar with tensile strength up to 100 ksi , to determine if it could become the new standard.
"We're going to hone in on exact properties," he said. "Above all, we want to know the exact strengths of the steels we develop, as well as their ability to resist breakage, and their functional lifetimes." He also noted that in Texas, where a large portion of the rebar used in U.S. construction projects is forged, switching to a stronger steel could have positive environmental effects. Since sturdier rebar means less of it will be needed in construction, the energy saved could be considerable
Prof. Ghannoum is set to begin the two-year project this fall, with a small group of UTSA graduate students to aid him. He's working with the five largest steel mills in the United States to establish specifications for 80 and 100-grade bars, which will entail a good deal of testing. Ann ultrasonic testing machine to help simulate a host of conditions, including earthquakes, will soon be on the way to Ghannoum's laboratory.
www.utsa.edu
The University of Texas at San Antonio announces that its researchers have received a $248,083 grant to support R&D to increase the strength of concrete reinforcing bar.
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Nucor to acquire Independence Tube for its hollow structural sections
September 21, 2016
Source:
Nucor Corp., Charlotte, N.C., has agreed to acquire Independence Tube Corp., a leading independent manufacturer of hollow structural section steel tubing, for $435 million, or approximately 6x average EBITDA over the 2013-2015 period.
"Independence Tube is a natural fit with Nucor. Their business model is similar to ours with extremely efficient manufacturing facilities and a highly variable cost structure. Our companies' cultures are also similar, sharing a belief in continuous improvement, operating efficiency, and the value of our employees," said John Ferriola, Chairman, CEO and President of Nucor. "This acquisition is another important step in our long-term strategy to increase the number of value-added products we can offer our customers.
HSS is used in a broad array of structural and mechanical applications including nonresidential construction, infrastructure, and agricultural and construction equipment. ITC has the second highest market share in HSS, selling its products primarily through service centers, which are also an important channel to market for Nucor. ITC is primarily a producer of HSS and does not focus on products for energy or other pipe and tube segments. The addition of ITC to Nucor's portfolio will allow Nucor to offer a wider selection of products to its fabricator and service center customers, and it strengthens the company's presence in the key nonresidential construction market.
ITC and Nucor are highly complementary. Nucor is installing a large-diameter tube mill at an existing facility in Iuka, Mississippi. Adding large size HSS to ITC's already comprehensive product line will create the widest product offering in North America for HSS solutions. Nucor is North America's most comprehensive provider of steel solutions to the construction and infrastructure markets, with leadership positions in plate, bar, and structural steels, as well as joist, decking, metal buildings, and rebar fabrication.
ITC operates four strategically located state-of-the-art facilities in Illinois and Alabama that annually produce roughly 600,000 tons and employ approximately 335 teammates. ITC purchases hot-rolled coil from suppliers to produce its HSS steel tubing. The company's manufacturing plants are located in close proximity to Nucor's sheet mills in Decatur, Alabama; Crawfordsville, Indiana; and Ghent, Kentucky.
www.nucor.com
Nucor Corp., Charlotte, N.C., has agreed to acquire Independence Tube Corp., a leading independent manufacturer of hollow structural section steel tubing, for $435 million, or approximately six times the average EBITDA over the 2013-2015 period.
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Nucor to acquire steel plate mill in Texas
July 27, 2016
Source:
Nucor Corp., Charlotte, N.C., has agreed to acquire the Joy Global steel plate mill in Longview, Texas, for approximately $29 million. The mill produces carbon and alloy steel plate products with heat-treating capabilities, and has an annual capacity of 180,000 tons. The mill produces specialty plate products with the capability of producing plate that can range from 1 to 12 inches thick and up to 138 inches wide.
"This acquisition builds on our strategy to capture a growing share of higher value-added plate products, and complements the capabilities of our two existing plate mills," said John Ferriola, Chairman, CEO, and President of Nucor. "The Longview mill will serve as a valuable addition to Nucor's plate products, which we believe can be further leveraged by our Nucor commercial team."
Nucor's existing plate mills are in North Carolina and Alabama, and have a combined capacity of 2.9 million tons per year. Nucor's existing mills produce plate for manufacturers of barges, bridges, heavy equipment, rail cars, refinery tanks, ships, wind towers, armor, and other markets. Nucor plate products are also used in the pipe and tube, pressure vessel, transportation and construction industries.
Nucor and its affiliates are manufacturers of steel products, with operating facilities primarily in the United States and Canada. Products include carbon and alloy steel as bars, beams, sheet, and plate; steel pilings; steel joists and joist girders; steel decks; fabricated concrete reinforcing steel; cold-finished steel; steel fasteners; metal building systems; steel grating; and wire and wire mesh. Nucor, through the David J. Joseph Company, also brokers ferrous and nonferrous metals, pig iron and HBI/DRI; supplies ferro-alloys; and processes ferrous and nonferrous scrap. Nucor is North America's largest recycler.
www.nucor.com
Nucor Corp., Charlotte, N.C., has agreed to acquire the Joy Global steel plate mill in Longview, Texas, for approximately $29 million.
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NioCorp and IBC to collaborate on scandium-containing aluminum alloys
June 22, 2016
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NioCorp Developments Ltd., Centennial, Colo., and IBC Advanced Alloys, Vancouver, announce that they have entered into a joint development agreement to investigate and develop applications for scandium-containing alloys of aluminum and other metals for multiple downstream markets. The joint development agreement signals their intent to collaborate to ensure a reliable and secure U.S. supply of scandium and to catalyze greater scandium use across a variety of industries. Scandium is a transition metal (element #21) that can benefit industries such as commercial aviation, automotive, precision manufacturing, defense, electronics, and others.
When alloyed with aluminum, for example, scandium can increase strength and weldability of structures in commercial airliners, which in turn can reduce weight, fuel consumption, and emissions. ONG Commodities LLC has estimated that $1.0 to $1.5 million of scandium oxide in a Boeing 737NG single-aisle airliner can offer $10 to $15 million of net present value in fuel savings alone.
Scandium is seldom used today because global production is severely constrained and unreliable. The U.S. Geological Survey recently estimated that only 10 to 15 metric tons per year of scandium are now produced. However, independent experts such as ONG estimate that latent demand in the aerospace and solid oxide fuel cell sectors alone is several hundred metric tons per year.
NioCorp expects to come online as one of the world's leading producers of scandium from its Superalloy Materials Project in Elk Creek, Nebraska, potentially producing as much as 97 metric tons/year. IBC produces high-performance alloys in a range of product forms for multiple industries and platforms, including cast components for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
The President of IBC Engineered Materials, Chris Huskamp, will be leading the joint development effort for IBC. Mr. Huskamp is a former Boeing Associate Technical Fellow in advanced metallic processes who is credited as a named co-inventor of two pending patents regarding scandium-bearing aluminum alloys.
Scott Honan, Vice President of Business Development of NioCorp and President of Elk Creek Resources Corp., will manage the initiative for NioCorp. Mr. Honan is leading the effort to develop and build NioCorp's niobium/scandium/titanium mine and processing facility in Nebraska, and has more than a decade of experience in producing advanced materials for high-performance alloys.
www.niocorp.com
www.ibcadvancedalloys.com
NioCorp Developments Ltd., Centennial, Colo., and IBC Advanced Alloys, Vancouver, announce that they have entered into a joint development agreement to investigate and develop applications for scandium-containing alloys of aluminum and other metals for multiple downstream markets.
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Commercial Metals to build steel micromill in Oklahoma for long products
May 3, 2016
Source:
Commercial Metals Co., Irving, Texas, announces that it has begun construction of an electric-arc-furnace steel micromill in Durant, Okla., to produce long products by its continuous-continuous manufacturing process in which steel is melted, cast, and rolled from a single uninterrupted strand. The technology produces higher yields and consumes less energy than the traditional minimill process.
The company says that the new mill will produce low-cost, high-quality long steel products that will complement CMC's recycling and fabrication plants, and will enable it to better serve markets in Texas, Oklahoma, and surrounding states.
The Oklahoma micro mill is to be commissioned in the fall of 2017, and is expected to create approximately 300 jobs in the Durant area.
Commercial Metals Company and its subsidiaries manufacture, recycle, and market steel and metal products, related materials, and services through a network of steel minimills, steel fabrication and processing plants, construction-related product warehouses, metal recycling facilities, and marketing and distribution offices in the United States and in strategic international markets.
http://www.cmc.com
Commercial Metals Co., Irving, Texas, announces that it has begun construction of an electric-arc-furnace steel micromill in Durant, Okla., to produce long products by its continuous-continuous manufacturing process in which steel is melted, cast, and rolled from a single uninterrupted strand.
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SSAB introduces five steel product families for specific applications
April 20, 2016
Source:
SSAB, Stockholm, introduces five steel product families tailored for production processes and maximized end-product performance: SSAB Domex, SSAB Boron, SSAB Form, SSAB Laser Plus, and SSAB Weathering. The new SSAB brand families include hot rolled plate, hot and cold rolled strip, metal coated, and tubes and sections.
SSAB Domex comprises a wide range of versatile structural steels with excellent cold-forming properties for high productivity and reliable performance.
SSAB Boron is a hardenable steel made for the easy and consistent production of wear-resistant products quenched in the customer's own workshop.
SSAB Form is the right choice for stamping, stretching, deep drawing, bending, metal spinning, and other forming procedures, particularly in high-volume production requiring exact and consistent properties.
SSAB Laser Plus (shown in photo) is a structural steel for efficient laser, water, and plasma cutting, improving yield and product quality thanks to guaranteed flatness after cutting, low internal stresses, and smooth surface.
SSAB Weathering and COR-TEN provide customers with an exceptionally wide choice, and flexible ordering of high-strength corrosion-resistant steel grades.
"Customers want to know what a product can offer, so it makes sense to group our products according to how they are used," says Olavi Huhtala, Head of SSAB Europe. "This will make it much easier to identify the right product for the right application. We have created these optimized offers by combining recently-developed products with a selection of the best products from our earlier ranges."
The new product ranges also provide SSAB´s customers with direct access to the company´s extensive services and support. Customers are welcome to contact SSAB for workshop recommendations and technical support on how to improve productivity.
The merger between SSAB and Ruukki has resulted in a restructuring of SSAB's steel portfolio. Last year, SSAB announced some new offerings, and this product launch, together with a forthcoming relaunch of the Docol brand for the automotive industry, will complete SSAB´s new product portfolio.
www.ssab.com
SSAB, Stockholm, introduces five steel product families tailored for production processes and maximized end-product performance: SSAB Domex, SSAB Boron, SSAB Form, SSAB Laser Plus, and SSAB Weathering.
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