Smorgon maps beam plant in Virginia

By Tom Stundza -- Purchasing, 12/20/2006 6:48:00 AM

Melbourne-based Smorgon Steel is spending $30 million to develop a production facility for its patented LiteSteel™ beam product near Roanoke, Va., on the site of a former steel pipe fabrication facility. The mill, being designed by OTO Mills of Italy, will have annual capacity of 65,000 metric tons. Ray Horsburgh, Smorgon Steel’s CEO, says in a statement that “extensive research has demonstrated to us that there is a promising market for the LiteSteel Beam product in the U.S.” He projects that renovation of the Virginia property “will commence shortly with a view to opening a new manufacturing plant in the second half of 2008.”