Gerdau Ameristeel idled its steel rod mills in Perth Amboy, N.J., and Beaumont, Texas, in late July and early August because "the market is kind of soft." Shipment details for 2005 are uncertain but the company's U.S. mills shipped just 2.8 million net tons of rod last year after having shipped an average 3.25 million tons in previous years.

Ae Group, a German aluminum die-cast parts maker, will open its first U.S. manufacturing plant and North American headquarters in LaGrange, Ga. The firm supplies assembly ready high-pressure aluminum die-castings to the international automotive and aerospace industries. The new $50 million facility will begin operations in early 2006.

Sharon Tube has begun a six-month capital expansion of its Wheatland, Pa., cold-drawing facility. The expansion will increase the cold-drawn size range to 6.250-in. outside diameter by 0.390-in. inside wall ASTM-A-513 Type 5 (DOM) mechanical tubing.

Alcoa Fastening Systems of Torrance, Calif., a unit of aluminum giant Alcoa, will supply screws, bolts, hydraulic fittings, and installation tools for fighter jets, including the F-16 and F/A-22, being made by Lockheed Martin through 2010.