Gerdau Special Steel North America recently gave its Napoleon Township, Mich., plant a $4 million upgrade to further boost its energy efficiency and environmental standards.

The upgrade at the plant was made to its baghouse filtration system, which are used in many manufacturing facilities as an efficient method to filter particular matter and dust in compliance with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards to prevent the material from getting into the environment, according to a news release.

This investment includes modernizing the existing fans to make them more energy efficient, replacing a reverse air fan that cleans out the unit and installing larger duct work for increased capacity.

"This project supports and reinforces Gerdau’s commitment to economic, social, and environmental sustainability, as well as the Jackson community," Jack Finlayson, president of the Gerdau Special Steel North American division, said in a statement. "We strive to exceed the EPA’s environmental expectations in all of our special steel making operations."

The Napoleon Township mill upgrade is part of a $320 million investment by Gerdau to expand its special bar quality steel production in North America.

The mill, which opened in 1974 and is the largest employer in the township, is one of four Gerdau facilities that will share in the investment.

The local mill also received an additional $1.1 million to upgrade its induction bar reheating system in July.