Nucor’s Darlington Steel Mill announces $45 million expansion
Advertisement
Text size: small | medium | large
By Morning News Staff Reports
Published: November 24, 2008
DARLINGTON — Nucor Corp. has announced plans to invest $45 million over the next five years at its Nucor Steel South Carolina Steel Mill in Darlington.
The expansion is for capital improvements and won’t result in any more jobs at the plant at 300 Steel Mill Road, which is Darlington County’s fourth-largest employer.
The project will include improvements to the existing steel mill facility such as upgraded equipment in the rolling mills and improvements to the scrap conveyor, alloy handling systems, ductwork, railroad tracks and cranes. Further investments will be made through the expansion of the existing baghouse, the acquisition of land and growth in the mill’s special bar quality capabilities.
“We are proud to be able to continue our improvement and expansion to our Darlington Steel Mill, which is due primarily to the efforts of our dedicated employees and the support that we have received from the local community,” Mike Gurley, vice president and general manager of Nucor Steel South Carolina, said in a press release issued by the Darlington County Economic Development Partnership.
During its meeting Nov. 17, Darlington County Council held first reading of ordinance 08-23, which would provide a fee in lieu of ad valorem property taxes and allow special source revenue credits to the Nucor expansion.
“It is important that Nucor continually reinvest in technology and modernization of their Darlington Mill to remain competitive,” Darlington County Council Chairman Billy Baldwin said in the release. “Nucor is an important member of our community, and council looks forward to supporting this expansion.“
The Darlington Mill produces concrete reinforcing bars, hot rolled bars, rod, light shapes, structural angles and channels utilizing 100 percent recycled steel. These products have a wide usage serving primarily the agricultural, automotive, construction, energy, furniture, machinery, metal building, railroad, recreational equipment, shipbuilding, heavy truck and trailer market segment. Nucor is North America’s largest recycler, and was selected as the S.C. Recycler of the Year in 2007.
“In the midst of the national economic situation, it is gratifying for Nucor to show their confidence in our community by announcing this investment in their Darlington Mill,” Goz Segars, Darlington County Economic Development Partnership chairman, said in the release. “Existing industries are the backbone of our community, and we must continue to look for opportunities to support them.”
Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Nucor and its affiliates are manufacturers of steel products, with operating facilities primarily in the U.S. and Canada. Products produced include carbon and alloy steel — in bars, beams, sheet and plate; steel joists and joist girders; steel deck; fabricated concrete reinforcing steel; cold finished steel; steel fasteners; metal building systems; light gauge steel framing; steel grating and expanded metal; and wire and wire mesh.
Nucor also brokers ferrous and nonferrous metals, pig iron and HBI/DRI; supplies ferro-alloys; and processes ferrous and nonferrous scrap.
No company produces more steel in the United States than Nucor, according to May’s issue of American Metal Market. The rankings by the magazine tracked which company produces the most steel on American soil. Nucor topped the list with more than 22 million tons.
In August, Nucor’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Harris Steel Inc., a leading North American steel fabricator and processor, acquired Ambassador Steel Corp. and Ambassador’s affiliate, Delta Erecting, for about $185 million. Ambassador fabricates and distributes reinforcement bars, or rebar, that are used to strengthen concrete.
Buying Ambassador, which last year shipped 422,000 tons of fabricated rebar and distributed another 228,000 tons of reinforcing steel, expanded Nucor’s presence in the Midwestern, Gulf Coast and southeastern regions of the U.S.
Another the wholly-owned subsidiary of Nucor is Cincinnati-based David J. Joseph Co., which primarily trades scrap and scrap substitutes. Nucor Corp. acquired the company in March from SHV Holdings, N.V.
“Nucor has been a strong and valued member of our state’s business community for nearly 40 years. The company’s decision to further invest in our state demonstrates its commitment as a strong corporate citizen in South Carolina,” State Secretary of Commerce Joe Taylor said in the release. “This announcement also serves as another sign that the state’s business-friendly climate is working to grow existing businesses. Thanks to the team efforts of local and state officials, Darlington County will benefit from this investment now and in the future.”
Nucor Steel in brief
Nucor Corp., the largest steel producer in the United States, operates a steel bar mill in Darlington.
It is part of Nucor’s Bar Mill Group, which includes eight other mills in South Carolina, Nebraska, Texas, Utah, Alabama, Illinois, Mississippi and Washington.
Construction on the Darlington plant began in 1968, and one year later the plant was fully operational.
It produces special bar quality, merchant bar quality and reinforcing bar products.
Nucor has facilities in 14 states.
Post a Comment
The commenting period has ended or commenting has been deactivated for this article.
Can't find what you're looking for? Try our quick search:
