The 9-inch/10-inch rolling mill can produce 35,000 tons per month and drops the small end of its product size range to 7.5 mm for carbon, free machining and alloy grades, including 12L14 and other leaded steels.   

The company announced in June 2018 that it was preparing to restart the Lorain rolling mill by September. The restart, however, was pushed back until December.

“Republic had expected the 232 Steel Tariffs to create additional demand for domestic production, allowing production to begin in December 2018; however, imports remain at historically high levels for products produced on this mill,” it said in a statement. 

Nevertheless, the company is proceeding with the re-start. The mill, it said, has been fully refurbished; it has put more than 60 employees back on the payroll; and most importantly, the orders are coming in, it said.  

“We have successfully run internal production trials, and now anticipate receiving sufficient orders to support moving to a production mode in the second quarter of this year,” the company said. 

You can read Republic Steel's announcement here. The (Lorain, Ohio) Morning Journal also has coverage here and here.