Steel Mills
Last Coil Produced at AK Steel Ashland
Written by Sandy Williams
November 15, 2019
AK Steel Ashland rolled its final coil on Monday, Nov. 11, at 10:14 a.m. The Kentucky plant is expected to close its doors for good on Dec. 31.
“Everyone was walking the line, and as we walked the line, everyone watched it,” said Brian Boggs, an electronics technician at the mill, in a comment to The Daily Independent. “That just shows the pride people have in the job. It’s world class. Even today, we’re setting records as we shut down. AK Steel will miss Ashland Works.”
The blast furnace at the mill has been idled since 2015, but the facility continued to operate a single hot-dip galvanizing line. Only 76 of the 260 employees at the mill will remain until the end of the year. Some have accepted other positions at AK Steel and others are still reviewing their options.
AK Steel estimates the closing will save the company $40 million annually.
“I would like to thank our Ashland Works team for their tremendous dedication to our company and for all that they have done to make this transition a smooth one,” said CEO Roger Newport during the third-quarter earnings call. “Many of our Ashland employees have already accepted positions at other AK Steel locations and I am hopeful that even more will do so going forward.”
Sandy Williams
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