TimkenSteel unveiled its new jumbo bloom vertical caster at its Faircrest Steel Mill Friday to the public Friday. The $200 million caster began making steel last fall and has since produced more than 45,000 tons of steel blooms, according to a company release.
About 200 people attended the event, which included speeches from US Sen. Rob Portman, R-Cincinnati, and US Rep. Bob Gibbs, R-Lakeville, and Rep. Jim Renacci, R-Wadsworth.
The new caster, which rises more than 180 feet above ground and descends 90 feet below ground for an overall height of 270 feet, uses a vertical design that allows for continuous casting of high-alloy grades.
“TimkenSteel’s new jumbo bloom vertical caster improves both our efficiency and capacity to serve demand for large bars and seamless mechanical tubing,” Tom Moline, executive vice president of manufacturing, said in the release. “The product quality that we’re achieving with the caster is meeting our highest expectations.”