Nucor To Buy Steel Technologies Pickle Line in Ghent, Ky.

The value of the deal was not disclosed.

Nucor expects to take ownership of the facility on June 30. The steelmaker and Steel Technologies – a Louisville, Ky., based service center with locations across North America – will work in the meantime to make sure existing customers continue to receive pickled-and-oil (P&O) products from the line.

The pickle line in Ghent can process up to 450,000 tons of flat-rolled steel per year, Nucor said. It has capabilities ranging from .054-.500 min and can handle widths up to 72 inches.

Nucor steelmaker said the deal would allow it to continue to expand its offerings of value-added sheet products. And it will immediately benefit the company’s Ghent sheet mill, also known as Nucor Steel Gallatin, which is in the final stage of a hot mill expansion project.

That expansion will add 1.4 million tons per year of additional hot-rolled coil capacity. It will also allow the mill to roll coils up to 73.5 inches wide, higher strengths and heavier gauges – up to 1 inch, Nucor said.

By Michael Cowden, Michael@SteelMarketUpdate.com