Steel Dynamics, Inc. today announced plans to expand its offering of value-added flat roll steel products through the addition of a new galvanizing line in Columbus, Mississippi. The company plans to invest approximately $140 million and create 45 new jobs, adding a third galvanizing line at its Columbus Flat Roll Division.
After the planned completion of this new facility, the company will have nine value-added galvanizing lines located throughout the eastern half of the United States, with a total annual coating capacity of approximately 3.8 million tons. Upon the closing of the recently announced planned Heartland acquisition, the company will have ten flat roll steel galvanizing lines with approximately 4.2 million tons of coating capacity.
The new galvanizing line will have an annual coating capability of 400,000 tons, producing gauges between 0.013 inches and 0.160 inches, and widths between 36 inches and 72 inches. Construction is planned to take place during the next 24 months, with operations expected to begin mid-year 2020.
In a statement, Mark D. Millett, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, “In addition to typical capital reinvestment at Columbus, during the next 24 months we plan to invest between $90 million and $100 million to upgrade certain process lines and hot strip mill capability to increase through-cycle profit margin capability through further product diversification and increased process efficiency, and to increase the range of complex grade, higher-margin production capability.”