Republic Steel expects to reopen its Lorain, Ohio mill during the second quarter of 2019, according to a news release. The 9”-10” inch bar mill has been idled since 2016.
The Canton, Ohio-based company said that it “anticipates” starting production at the rolling mill with more than 60 employees; approximately 200 employees worked at the plant when it was idled three years ago.
“Over 60 employees have been hired and completed training, and the mill has undergone a complete refurbishment,” the company said in the news release. “We have successfully run internal production trials, and now anticipate receiving sufficient orders to support moving to a production mode in the 2nd Quarter of this year.”
However, the United Steelworkers union has not been informed of the company’s plans. “The United Steelworkers have not received any formal notice from Republic Steel on the startup of the 9”-10” inch bar mill in Lorain,” the USW said in a statement to local news media. “We have reached out to company representatives, and are waiting for their response. At this time, none of our members have been recalled from lay-off. The USW is committed to work with Republic Steel to facilitate the startup and return our members to work as soon as possible.”
In June 2018, Republic Steel announced it would reopen the mill that September in response to business generated by the Section 232 steel tariffs. The company then pushed the date of reopening to December 2018.
“Republic had expected the 232 Steel Tariffs to create additional demand for domestic production, allowing production to begin in December 2018, however imports remain at historically high levels for products produced on this mill,” the company said in a news release.