ThyssenKrupp to build plant in Alabama or Louisana

ThyssenKrupp Steel AG and ThyssenKrupp Stainless AG have announced that they will jointly build a new high-grade flat rolled steel plant in the US in order to strengthen ThyssenKrupp's position in the North American market. The two ThyssenKrupp segments, both based in Duisburg, Germany, have yet to determine the exact location of the plant, but the site selection process is currently concentrating on the states of Alabama and Louisiana. The central element of the US$2.9 billion plant, with a planned annual capacity of 4.5 million metric tons, will be a hot strip mill which will be used primarily to process slabs from the company's new ThyssenKrupp CSA mill in Brazil. The plant will also include cold rolling and hot dip coating capabilities. In addition, ThyssenKrupp Stainless will build a facility to provide ThyssenKrupp Mexinox in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, with hot band to make stainless products. Production is expected to begin in 2010.