AK Steel Temporarily Idles Some Operations in Mansfield, Ashland
11/12/2008 - AK Steel will temporarily idle its Mansfield operations, and most of its Ashland, Ky., operations because of sharply lower demand for some of its products.
AK Steel announced that it is temporarily idling its Mansfield, Ohio, operations, and most of its Ashland, Ky., operations, due to sharply lower demand for some of the company's products. Based on currently foreseeable market conditions, the company said that both facilities will remain idled until early- to mid-January.
Steel production and shipping temporarily ceased earlier this week at the Mansfield Works, which produces stainless flat-rolled steels that are used primarily to manufacture automotive exhaust systems. A small number of the plant’s 365 hourly and salaried employees will continue to maintain the operations in anticipation of a resumption of production when warranted by business conditions.
Blast furnace, steelmaking, casting and coating operations will be idled later this month at AK’s Ashland Works, which produces carbon flat-rolled steel for automotive, appliance and other markets. As in Mansfield, a small number of the Ashland Works’ 1100 hourly and salaried employees will continue to work maintaining the idled operations in preparation for a re-start.
The company said that the Ashland Works’ coke plant will continue to operate, but at a reduced level, and that its blast furnace would be maintained in "hot-idle" status.
The company also said that it continues to evaluate all of its operations and administrative functions in light of the economic downturn, and will be prepared to adjust to continued rapidly changing conditions. That would include restarting the idled operations sooner if warranted by significantly improved business conditions.
"We remain hopeful that we will be able to return our dedicated and hard-working employees to their jobs as swiftly as possible," said James L. Wainscott, Chairman, President and CEO. "Of course, that depends entirely on credit availability and consumer confidence, which are at the heart of this serious economic downturn."
AK Steel produces flat-rolled carbon, stainless and electrical steels, primarily for automotive, appliance, construction and electrical power generation and distribution markets. The company employs about 6500 men and women in Middletown, Mansfield, Coshocton and Zanesville, Ohio; Butler, Pa.; Ashland, Ky.; Rockport, Ind.; and its corporate headquarters in West Chester, Ohio.
AK Tube LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of AK Steel, employs about 300 men and women in plants in Walbridge, Ohio and Columbus, Indiana. AK Tube produces carbon and stainless electric resistance welded (ERW) tubular steel products for truck, automotive and other markets.
