Republic Engineered Products Expands Capacity at Lackawanna, Canton
02/11/2011 - Republic Engineered Products announced that its new $20-million precision sizing mill at Lackawanna rolling operation is fully operational. The company also has begun using additional capacity at its Canton FlexCast Facility to produce 9.75- X 7.50-inch blooms.
Republic Engineered Products, Inc. announced the new $20-million precision sizing mill at its rolling operation in Blasdell (Lackawanna), N.Y., is fully operational.
The company also has begun using additional capacity at its Canton FlexCast Facility to produce 9.75" X 7.50" blooms. The company anticipates the new mill and additional bloom capacity will benefit all customers who have requirements within this product range.
The new Lackawanna sizing mill is North America's first model 370++ Kocks three-roll reducing and sizing block (RSB). The new mill enables Republic to produce round and hexagonal-shaped bars and coils with closer-than-standard tolerances for the near-net forging and cold-forming industries.
The mill works as a finishing block to produce rounds (.750 to 3.000 inch) and hexagons (.750 to 1.812 inch), and finishes bar-in-coils within the same dimensional range and sections. Republic anticipates that larger hexagon sizes will be available in the near future.
The new system includes a quick automatic stand-changing system, remote adjustment of pass and guide, and a computer-aided adjusting system for stands and guides. Since start-up of the mill, reduced downtime and improved product quality have led to production and yield improvements.
"We're pleased to bring additional capacity to the hot-rolled marketplace through increased production efficiencies thanks to our new mill in New York," said Republic President and CEO Jaime Vigil. "Not only are we producing more in Lackawanna, we're producing product with much-improved diameter tolerances, which enables more consistent part quality for our customers."
In addition to producing blooms at full capacity at its Canton Bloom Cast Facility, Republic is now using additional capacity at its Canton FlexCast Facility to produce 9.750- X 7.50-inch blooms.
With skyrocketing demand for bloom cast product, Republic saw a timely opportunity to enhance bloom production to address its customers' needs.
"We've got a good feel for the market, so we're well aware that customers have been experiencing a tough time finding blooms," Vigil said. "Lead times have extended significantly, and fortunately Republic has the ability to provide some relief."
Republic Engineered Products, Inc. is a leading North American supplier of special bar quality (SBQ) steel. Republic's products include hot-rolled steel bars, cold-finished steel bars, and bottom-poured ingots. With headquarters and steelmaking capabilities in Canton, Ohio, the company operates value-added rolling and finishing facilities in Canton, Lorain, and Massillon, Ohio; Lackawanna, N.Y.; Gary, Ind.; and Hamilton, Ont. Republic employs approximately 2000 people.
