Union Partners, a metals and logistics operating company with independent facilities located throughout the US, announced plans today to build a new steel processing facility on the Osceola, Arkansas campus of Big River Steel. The operations will be located directly adjacent to Big River's Flex Mill and will include both slitting and multi-blanking lines in a new build-to-suit facility expandable to 258,000 square feet. Construction will be on an accelerated schedule with a formal ground breaking in the first quarter of 2018.
In a press release, Union Partners said it will install the latest innovations in technology and processes to enable real-time collaboration between their new operations and Big River Steel. The mill-grade equipment was selected to service the needs of Big River and its customers, including the specific needs of the automotive industry which both companies are targeting. Planned expansions are already designed to meet future needs as product development continues at the Big River mill that began producing steel just over a year ago.
Dave Stickler, CEO of Big River Steel, commented: "Big River is excited to welcome Union Partners to Arkansas as we continue to attract a full roster of the industry's best organizations to our campus. We've helped bring millions of dollars of investment to Arkansas and hundreds of jobs. And we're not done yet."