In a statement, the company said the project, intended to put the plant’s excess melting and casting capacity to use, will allow for 240,000 tons of rebar production. It said the line will make No. 3 to No. 8 bar in coils and in custom straight lengths. It also will make smooth bar. 

"This investment will further expand our structural and rail division's product offerings and capability in a very capital efficient manner. We believe our intended business model could provide meaningful time- and yield-loss savings for the customer, while also providing working capital benefits,” chief executive Mark Millett said in a statement. 

Steel Dynamics last year announced a US$28 million expansion of its Roanoke, Va., bar mill, a project that will add more than 100,000 tons of rolling capacity, including rebar. Millett said the Columbia City project will complement the Roanoke expansion and will make Steel Dynamics the largest independent rebar supplier in the region. 

The project primarily consists of the addition of a rolling mill, the installation of other unspecified equipment and supporting infrastructure work, Steel Dynamics said.  

The new line is to be completed sometime in the fourth quarter 2018.