"The advanced quench-and-temper facility is the largest of our four thermal-treatment facilities and enables us to meet customer needs faster and at more precise specifications," said Tom Moline, executive vice president of commercial operations.

"We're pleased to bring this newest asset on-line now that market demand for thermal-treated bars and tubes has increased,” he added. “In addition to servicing automotive applications, this will be especially beneficial for our oil and gas customers' most demanding applications in down-hole tools and top-of-hole infrastructure." 

The facility, which was set up at Timken’s Gambrinus mill in Canton, Ohio, gives the company an additional 50,000 tons of quench-and-temper capacity. With the facility, it is now capable of processing 500,000 tons annually. 

TimkenSteel announced plans for the facility in October 2014, but deferred construction owing to market conditions. The company eventually resumed work, announcing earlier this year that it intended to start up the facility in the fourth quarter.  

SMS group is the primary equipment supplier on the project, but TimkenSteel’s own scientists and engineers made custom modifications, the company said. The facility is capable treating bars and tubes of between 4 and 13 inches.