Steel Mills
Gerdau Completes Upgrade at Virginia Rolling Mill
Written by David Schollaert
May 2, 2021
Long products steelmaker Gerdau has completed the installation and cold commissioning of the rolling mill upgrade at its structural steel mill in Petersburg, Va.
The $33 million project–originally slated for completion by late 2020 but delayed due to the impact of COVID-19–has also begun initial hot rolling trials, a company spokesperson confirmed.
The project involved a variety of upgrades to the 24-year-old facility, including the installation of two new rougher stands. The project was designed to improve the mill’s capacity and productivity while expanding its product offerings.
“As Gerdau celebrates its 120th anniversary, the company continues to enhance its operational capabilities and production efficiencies,” said Chia Yuan Wang, president of Gerdau Long Steel North America. “This investment reflects our commitment to our customers, as well as our desire to expand product line offerings in order to grow in attractive market segments.”
Gerdau’s Petersburg electric-arc-furnace (EAF) mill in Virginia has annual capacity of 1.065 million short tons. It produces wide-flange beams, H-pile, sheet piling, and structural merchant products.
The upgrade at Petersburg is part of a larger combined North American investment plan that also includes upgrades to the medium section mill at the Carterville, Ga., plant. The goal of this multi-fold project is to advance Gerdau’s North American operational capabilities and improve production efficiencies and capacity. Gerdau expects to complete the upgrades at the 1.020 million short tons per year EAF facility in Cartersville by this summer.
By David Schollaert, David@SteelMarketUpdate.com
David Schollaert
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