Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Corp. completed the first heat in its continuous electric arc furnace (EAF) at approximately 11:50 a.m., Sunday, Nov. 28, less than 16 months after the project was authorized. The EAF is located at the company's Mingo Junction, Ohio, Plant.

The Consteel^(R) EAF is a state-of-the art continuous steelmaking furnace. Its integration into Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel's traditional blast furnace hot end is unique in the United States.

The new continuous EAF features a continuous scrap feed conveyor and a preheating process that heats the scrap steel charge to 1000 degrees. With the new furnace, Wheeling Pittsburgh will have the flexibility to use either 100% scrap or a mix of scrap and liquid iron. The electric arc furnace will produce steel that meets all Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel's current requirements.

"This is a historic moment for Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel," said James G. Bradley, Wheeling-Pittsburgh Chairman, President and CEO. "Today marks the beginning of a new era for our company and our employees. We had to overcome many obstacles to reach this goal. I cannot say enough about the hard work, determination and expertise that our employees have brought to this task. Together with the leadership of the United Steelworkers of America and government officials from West Virginia and Ohio, we accomplished something that will have a positive impact on the Upper Ohio Valley for many years to come. I am immensely proud of what we have accomplished together."

Wheeling-Pittsburgh Corp., together with its primary subsidiary, Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Corporation, is a metal products company with 3,100 employees. Its facilities are in Steubenville, Mingo Junction, Yorkville, and Martins Ferry, Ohio; Beech Bottom and Follansbee, W.Va.; and Allenport, Pa.