SSAB Breaks Ground on New Alabama Heat Treat Facility
11/16/2010 - SSAB celebrated this week the groundbreaking ceremony for its new Q&T heat treating facility on the site of its existing steel mill in Mobile County, Ala.
SSAB celebrated this week the groundbreaking ceremony for its new heat treating facility on the site of its existing steel mill in Mobile County, Ala.
The ceremony marks the official start of construction for the new state-of-the-art heat treating facility, which will produce value-added steel plate used throughout the manufacturing and construction sectors. The investment is part of the program announced in 2008 to further develop SSAB’s production base in the United States.
“SSAB is focused on meeting our customers’ growing demand for quenched and tempered steels,” said Olof Faxander, President and CEO SSAB. “With this new heat treating line, we are well-positioned for broad expansion particularly for niche steel grade products.”
SSAB is investing nearly $300 million for the new heat treating facility, which will process quenched and tempered steels. Additional improvements include a vacuum tank degasser and roll shifting technology. The investment is expected to add more than 100 high quality jobs.
“Once this facility is fully operational, we will increase our quenched and tempered steel capacity by 200,000 metric tons,” said David Britten, Executive Vice President and Head of Business Area Americas. “We are proud to have the opportunity to build this facility with the support of team members throughout SSAB and the community.”
Britten addressed attendees of the groundbreaking ceremony. Others speaking at the ceremony included Linda Swann, director of the Alabama Development Office; Troy Wayman, Vice President of Alabama Economic Development; and Merceria Ludgood, Mobile County Commissioner.
The new facility is expected to be brought into commission in the first half of 2012.
SSAB is a global leader in value added, high strength steel, offering products developed in close cooperation with its customers. SSAB employs 8700 people in over 45 countries around the world and operates production facilities in Sweden and the US.
