AK Steel recently held a dedication ceremony for its new vacuum degassing unit and converted caster at the company's Ashland, Ky., facility.

The projects are part of a nearly $120 million investment at Ashland Works in recent years, which also includes blast furnace refractory work, the rehabilitation of coke batteries and a restart of an idled coke battery.

Completion of the project enables AK Steel to more closely match its steel production capabilities with customer requirements for ultra-low carbon steel products, primarily for automotive and appliance markets. The project was completed two months ahead of schedule with the first heat of molten metal processed through the degasser on July 28, 2005.

Completion of the project also eliminates AK Steel's need to purchase degassed steel slabs from outside sources.

Headquartered in Middletown, Ohio, AK Steel produces flat-rolled carbon, stainless and electrical steel products, as well as carbon and stainless tubular steel products, for automotive, appliance, construction and manufacturing markets.