Quanex Corp.’s Board of Directors has approved a $20 million expansion program (Phase VIII) for MacSteel.

Phase VIII will increase the annual capacity of the Ft. Smith, Ark., facility by 40,000 tons to approximately 500,000 tons. MacSteel's total shipping capacity will be increased to more than 1.3 million tons.

In addition to the capacity increase, the modernization will improve production flow and further enhance quality. Specifically, Phase VIII will include upgrades to the rotary continuous caster, direct rolling mill, and metallurgical refining areas.

Raymond A. Jean, Quanex Chairman and CEO, said, "MacSteel is responding to the growing needs of its customers, and Quanex is committed to supporting the growth of its core businesses."

MacSteel, part of the Vehicular Products group of Quanex Corp., is headquartered in Jackson, Mich. Macsteel operates manufacturing facilities in Jackson and Monroe, Mich., and Fort Smith, Ark., as well as processing facilities in Huntington, Ind. Quanex, founded in 1927, is based in Houston, Texas. Quanex Corp. is an industry-leading manufacturer of value-added engineered materials and components for the Vehicular Products and Building Products markets.