Steel Mills

SSAB to Invest $100 Million in Alabama Mill

November 1, 2018

Steelmaker SSAB plans to invest up to $100 million in its operations near Mobile, Ala. Improvements to the mill, to take place from 2019 to 2021, will increase the potential capacity for high-strength steel production by 130,000 metric tons per year, the company said.

The investment aims to increase production capacity for high-strength, value-added steels, including quenched and tempered (Q&T) steels, while increasing operational efficiency and reducing raw material costs. Plans include installation of a new accelerated cooling system that will reduce the need for alloys in the production process. Other areas targeted for improvement include the rolling mill, formatting, blasting and painting, as well as overall shipping capacity.

“This announcement demonstrates SSAB’s commitment to our Alabama operations and to our valued customer base in North America, as well as those customers we serve globally,” said Chuck Schmitt, President of SSAB Americas. “With this planned investment, we not only increase our production, but improve our quality and efficiency performance, as well.”

SSAB has a history of investment in Alabama, beginning with the initial investment to build the mill, followed over the years by upgrades and expansions all totaling more than $820 million. Last year, SSAB Americas announced it would relocate the division’s head office from suburban Chicago to Mobile.