Steel Mills

Quench Facility Closed Permanently at Lorain Tubular

March 10, 2017

US Steel announced it will permanently close the No. 6 Quench and Temper Mill at Lorain Tubular Operations. The line has been idle since March 2015 and will be permanently shut down by June 8.

“This proposed action is a strategic decision for the company after considering a number of factors, including challenging market conditions for tubular products and unfairly traded imports,” said U.S. Steel spokeswoman Erin DiPietro.

The Lorain No. 6 Quench and Temper facility processes seamless steel pipe from 2-3/8” to 7-5/8” OD, with wall thicknesses of up to 0.812” and to a maximum finished pipe length of 48 feet.

State Rep. Dan Ramos, D-Lorain, called the closure disappointing and said he will be writing the President to express his concern. His statement follows:

“I am deeply disappointed that yet another line is closing here in Lorain. Steel has long been an important driver of our local and state economy, and I am concerned by the social and economic challenges new closures present to our community.

“Additionally, though, I am concerned that Washington hasn’t moved in any significant way to battle the dumping of foreign steel, a leading cause in the decline of the domestic steel industry. This federal inaction is particularly troubling given President Trump’s frequent promises to bring back manufacturing jobs and revitalize the domestic steel industry.

“I will be writing the president to ask him to make American steel a priority, not just a talking point. If President Trump wants to put “America First”, he can start here. I want him to understand this is not just an economic issue, but a national security issue as well. Our community needs leadership from the White House and Congressional leaders, and we haven’t gotten it.”