In an announcement, SMS group said the project largely entails replacement of the universal roughing and edging and universal finishing stands at the plant’s Mill 2. The mill stands will be replaced with a tandem reversing mill built around its Compact Cartridge Stands technology. 

“The upgrade will allow Nucor-Yamato to expand our production capabilities and include new high-strength steel grades,” said Nucor-Yamato Steel vice president and general manager Thad Solomon. “We are committed to growing our market leadership position in structural steel and this project advances that goal.”

Mill 2 makes wide-flange beams and H-piling. The project is to be completed in the second half of 2020. 

The project follows previous upgrades SMS made to the plant a few years ago. In 2012, it was contracted to replace a universal finishing stand with a 3-stand finishing mill. It also installed two additional finishing stands to allow for rolling of wide sheet piles.