SeverCorr speeds up construction

By Tom Stundza -- Purchasing, 4/25/2007 7:33:00 AM

SeverCorr, the new steel mill in Columbus, Miss., will accelerate the second stage of construction so the rolling mills to more than double the mill’s capacity will occur almost three years faster than planned. By the end of this year, the mill will be making 1.5 million tons annually of high-quality sheet steels suitable for the automotive, building, agricultural, tubular products and appliance industries. The second stage will boost capacity of uncoated and coated sheet to 3.4 million tons/year.

Although the intention to expand the plant has always been part of the overall strategy for the facility, that growth was originally scheduled to begin two-to-three years following the completion of the first phase of construction. However, CEO John Correnti says in a press release that strategic partners of the organization now believe the expansion should begin sooner.

The plant’s rolling mill went into operation in March, producing hot-rolled pickled and oiled strip to such service center customers as Heidtman Steel Products, Kenwal Steel and MISA Metals. A galvanizing and galvannealing line will be in operation by the end of the second quarter.