Swedish steel manufacturer SSAB announced this week that it has chosen its Mobile, Alabama plant as the site for its new plate heat-treating facility, as part of a $460 million investment program. This will increase the Mobile facility's quenched and tempered steel capacity from 100,000 nt to 400,000 nt.
Olof Faxander, CEO of SSAB, told press, "This reaffirms SSAB's focus on our value added quenched and tempered steel and our commitment to meet customers' growing demand for such products."
SSAB announced in August that the complete $460 million investment program will consist of a new quenching line, advanced finishing facilities, control and roll shifting technology for the rolling mill, and a vacuum tank degasser.
The heat treatment facility investment was originally announced in April 2008. Montpelier, Iowa was the other mill considered for the project. Construction at the Mobile facility will commence in 2009 and production is expected to begin in 2011.