Final Thoughts

We had roughly 40 attendees converge on the Courtyard Starkville MSU at The Mill. Hailing from all over North America, the diverse group represented the breadth of the steel industry. Some industry veterans were getting a refresher on different aspects of the market, while newbies in areas like sales and marketing wanted to familiarize themselves with all things steel.

Like our conferences, our workshops engage the supply chain from top to bottom. In Mississippi, the course was no different. It included producers, service centers, OEMs. Even the US International Trade Commission was present and eager to learn.

In the classroom

As much as I’d like to say that it’s a great course with an overview of the steel industry and steelmaking, it’s really a two-day intensive and immersive workshop.

Those attending got a front-row seat to the entire life-cycle of steel: from raw materials like scrap and ore all the way to downstream applications like automotive — and everything in between. And it’s not hard to do when you have an amazing group of instructors, who together have nearly a century of experience in the steel industry – from sales to electrical and metallurgical engineering.

A special shout-out and huge thanks to our outstanding instructors: Roger Walburn, Chuck McDaniels, Mario Briccetti, and Chris Shipp. Acquainted with just about every facet of the industry, they possess a wealth of knowledge, and a passion for sharing it.

Thank you for helping craft an immensely valuable and highly educational course.

From the basic differences between an electric-arc furnace (EAF) and a blast furnace (BF), different grades of steel, or the intricacies of steel pricing, the instructors covered it all. And, of course, there was always enough time to walk through questions and ensure the course was a dialog.

Beyond the course, there were ample networking opportunities, including happy hour and meals where attendees could mingle and get to know each other. Perhaps share a business card or LinkedIn invite. And maybe even have a little fun in the process — I heard the Starkville nightlife is rather impressive.

At the mill

A major highlight and incredibly practical part of the course was our guided tour of SDI’s Steel Flat Roll Steel Group, Columbus Division in Columbus, Miss. They produce flat-rolled products. A quick 20-minute bus ride, and we were there. After donning our PPE, listening to a safety talk, and eating a boxed lunch, we were ready to go.

SDI metallurgists split us up into groups of 10 and took us on a two-hour guided tour. Workers explained to us the nature of their jobs as they took us upstairs, across hot rolling lines, and into pulpits. All the theoretical knowledge we learned in class turned real.

We walked the hot strip mill – from molten steel through a continuous caster, descaling, and finally to a hot-rolled coil. We walked the cold mill too! From uncoiling a cold-rolled coil to a continuous anneal, and finally through a coating pot.

It’s one thing to see a PowerPoint slide but another to be in the pulpit and to stare out the window as an EAF gets charged. Nothing quite prepares you for the sight of tons of molten metal. A pickling line might not sound impressive until you see one at work in front of you.

A huge thank you to all the SDI staff who made this awesome experience possible!

Don’t take my word for it

I won’t bore you with review after review from Starkville, but here are just a few from those who attended:

“The SMU Steel 101 Workshop was wonderful. The industry is always changing, and SMU does a great way of refreshing and incorporating new and exciting things in the industry.”

“This is the type of class I wish I had when I first started! Each section of the course was so in-depth and gave me a wealth of knowledge that will be used daily as a customer service rep. Highly recommend participating in this course if you want to have a better understanding of steel and everything that goes into production.”

“Great training for the experienced and the new additions within the steel industry. If it would be possible, I would like to attend at least once a year. Great job all!”

What’s next?

Tomorrow, Barry Zekelman, executive chairman and CEO of Zekelman Industries, sits down with SMU’s own Michael Cowden for our latest Community Chat, of course, Tampa Steel Conference is just around the corner on Feb. 2-4, 2025, but I’d like to draw your attention to our next Steel 101 workshop. 

We typically hold a live Steel 101 two to three times a year. Our next one is set for Spring 2025 in Charleston, S.C.

We will once again converge on Hyatt Place Mount Pleasant Towne Centre, with the date set for March 11-12, 2025. The workshop includes a guided mill tour of Nucor Steel Berkeley. You can get more details here. You can register here.

Space is limited, so don’t delay! I promise you, it is “worth its weight in steel.”

And, as always, from all of us at SMU, we thank you for your continued support.