SeverCorr announced that its pickling line is now operational, marking the first commercial production at the new 1.5 million ton/year state-of-the-art facility in Columbus, MS.

To date, SeverCorr has processed over 3,000 tons of material through the pickle line for nearly a dozen customers including Heidtman Steel Products, Kenwal Steel Corp. and MISA Metals.

“We are of course ecstatic with the startup of the pickle line,” said Mike Wagner, Chief Commercial Officer of SeverCorr. “Our employees who are part of this area have a lot of pride in being first. They have worked diligently for the last two months during training and testing and are excited to start processing coils for our customers.”

At full output, the line will produce 1.25 million tons/year of hot roll pickled and oiled product. While much of this production will be used in downstream processing, the balance will be sold directly to SeverCorr customers requiring pickled and oiled product. SeverCorr is currently purchasing hot roll bands from third parties until the third quarter of 2007 when its own hot roll product is available. Between now and then, additional SeverCorr’s cold rolled products will be available by the end of the first quarter, and galvanized and galvannealed product will be available by the end of second quarter.

“This is just one of many milestones we will be celebrating as more and more portions of the mill come on-line in coming months,” said Wagner. “But it is wonderful to say SeverCorr is officially open and doing business — processing steel, filling orders and satisfying customers.”

Currently under construction, SeverCorr’s new facility is scheduled to be completed in the third of quarter 2007.

SeverCorr LLC was formed in 2003 to design, engineer, build and operate a state-of-the-art steel facility to service growing manufacturing opportunities in the Southern United States. In October 2005, SeverCorr broke ground on a next-generation steel mill near Columbus, Miss. When complete in the third quarter of 2007, the plant will produce 1.5 million tons of high-quality steels a year for use in the automotive, building, agricultural, pipe & tube, and appliance industries. A unique feature of the company is its 1400-acre mega-site, which has been designed to accommodate production partners and related manufacturers onsite.