Speaking during a conference call to discuss its first-quarter earnings, Commercial Metals president and chief executive Barbara Smith said the ramp up has proceeded well and expects that production will rise as the newest crew, which has been hired, is trained up. 

Also during the call, Smith said the company expects to complete work on the new rebar spooling line at its Arizona micro-mill this summer. Commercial Metals already has rebar spooling capabilities at the Oklahoma plant, and the product is being well received by its own downstream rebar fabrication shops and outside customers, Smith said.  

Additionally, Smith said the company’s long products mill in Poland has begun work on a US$80 million expansion project. The project will allow it to produce higher margin wire rod and merchant products and put excess melt capacity to use. The project will increase finished steel capacity by 400,000 metric tons, the company said. 

The project is to be completed by late 2020.