Butler Works EAF Sustains Damage in AK Steel Incident
07/06/2011 - The #5 electric arc furnace at AK Steel’s Butler Works sustained some damage on July 1 when molten steel inside the furnace broke through the furnace shell, causing damage to the furnace and some of its components.
AK Steel Corp. said that the #5 electric arc furnace (EAF) at its Butler Works sustained some damage on July 1, 2011 when molten steel inside the furnace breached the furnace shell causing damage to the furnace and some of its components.
The plant resumed steel production on Saturday, July 2, 2011 utilizing other electric furnaces at the plant that had not been impacted by the #5 EAF incident.
The company said that it does not expect any adverse impact to customer shipments resulting from the incident, and that it is continuing to investigate the root cause of the incident while crews begin to make repairs to the furnace and its auxiliary equipment.
At this time, company officials have neither an estimate of the cost nor date for completion of the repairs, which will not impact ongoing operations at the plant.
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 6200 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, Ind. AK Tube produces carbon and stainless electric resistance welded (ERW) tubular steel products for truck, automotive and other markets.
