2024 Steel Intern Scholarship - William E. Schwabe
Clayton R. Kirkpatrick
This summer I interned at Steel Dynamics Inc. – Flat Roll Group Butler Division. As a second-year intern, my responsibilities have increased in both volume and importance. In July of this summer, I transitioned from the melt/cast department to the cold mill to broaden my knowledge and experience with the Butler facility.
One of my major projects in the cold mill was the redistribution of power for our automation controllers. We have purchased three large uninterruptible power supplies that will provide battery backup to all our controllers, hastening the return to production in the event of a power outage. This project required me to probe the facility to identify any and all equipment we might need, prompt the seasoned electricians to determine which equipment has the most issues after reenergizing, and map the locations of the UPSs, transformers, disconnects, distribution panels, and all associated cables.
Another project I was involved in was coordinating the electrical elements for our new pickled and oiled shipping expansion. This expansion will enable us to redirect traffic from busy shipping bays to the other side of the mill, at the exit of our pickle lines. This means less coil shuttling and more coils being shipped out at a time. My responsibilities for this project include conduit mapping, termination scheduling and contractor coordination.
Day to day, I stayed in touch with the electricians while working on these longer projects. I would touch base with them in the morning and keep my radio on throughout the day to respond to anything that sounded interesting. The electricians are always willing to teach anyone eager to learn, so I took advantage of opportunities to join them on jobs, whether it be in a hole, on a manlift, or on a crane.
These past two summers have provided more than I could have asked for from an internship. Steel Dynamics has solidified my interest in the steel industry, and I plan to begin my career as an electrical engineer in steel upon graduation in May.