Misplaced Pages

Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel: Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editContent deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 21:10, 23 February 2018 editTom.Reding (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Page movers, Template editors3,808,168 editsm Fix Category:Pages using deprecated image syntax; WP:GenFixes on, using AWB← Previous edit Latest revision as of 14:59, 14 September 2024 edit undoBrianyoumans (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users19,377 edits History: add a "the" 
(35 intermediate revisions by 26 users not shown)
Line 7: Line 7:
| fate = Acquired then liquidated | fate = Acquired then liquidated
| foundation = 1920 | foundation = 1920
| successor = RG Steel, LLC (bankrupt entity) | successor = ] (bankrupt entity)
| location = ] (1920-1986)<br>] (1986-2013) | location = ] (1920–1986)<br>] (1986–2013)
| products = raw ]<br>]<br>substrate steel<br>coils<br>] building<br>]<br>]<br>] | products = raw ]<br>]<br>substrate steel<br>coils<br>] building<br>]<br>]<br>]
| num_employees = 3,133 (2006)<ref name=10K></ref> | num_employees = 3,133 (2006)<ref name=10K></ref>
}} }}

]


'''Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel''' was a ] manufacturer based in ], ]. '''Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel''' was a ] manufacturer based in ], ].


==Operations== ==Operations==
The company owned the following factories, all of which are between ] and ]. The company owned the following factories, all of which are between ], and ].
* '''Ackermann Works''' at Wheeling, which produced pressed and drawn steel stampings used in the automotive and appliance industries. * '''Ackermann Works''' at Wheeling, which produced pressed and drawn steel stampings used in the automotive and appliance industries.
* '''Beech Bottom Works''' at ], which consisted of sheet mills for producing hot rolled electrical sheets used by electrical equipment manufacturers. It also had facilities for coating long terne sheets produced by the Yorkville Works. * '''Beech Bottom Works''' at ], which consisted of sheet mills for producing hot rolled electrical sheets used by electrical equipment manufacturers. It also had facilities for coating long terne sheets produced by the Yorkville Works.
* '''Benwood Works''' at ], which consisted of 2 pipe mills with slabs supplied from Steubenville Works. * '''Benwood Works''' at ], which consisted of 2 pipe mills with slabs supplied from Steubenville Works.
* '''LaBelle Works''' at Wheeling, which manufactured cut nails. * ''']''' at Wheeling, which manufactured cut nails.
* '''Martins Ferry Works''' at ], which produced galvanized sheets, galvanized roofing and accessories, corrugated culverts, and hand-dipped items. It featured two continuous galvanizing lines where coils of steel strips were processed, galvanized, and treated and sold under the SofTite brand. A second galvanizing line went into operation in November 1953 at a cost of $3 million. * '''Martins Ferry Works''' at ], which produced galvanized sheets, galvanized roofing and accessories, corrugated culverts, and hand-dipped items. It featured two continuous galvanizing lines where coils of steel strips were processed, galvanized, and treated and sold under the SofTite brand. A second galvanizing line went into operation in November 1953 at a cost of $3 million.
* '''Steubenville Works''', which consisted of three integrated operations: * '''Steubenville Works''', which consisted of three integrated operations:
** Steubenville North at ], which featured&nbsp;two blast furnaces, 11 open hearth furnaces, blooming mill, hot strip mill, pickle line, and cold reduction mills. It produced hot rolled sheets and plates and cold rolled sheets and coils. ** At the '''Steubenville North Works''' in ], there were two blast furnaces, eleven open hearth furnaces, a blooming mill, a hot strip mill and cold reduction mills. The principal products of the North Works included hot-rolled sheets, plates, cold rolled sheets, and coils.
** Steubenville South at ], which consisted of three blast furnaces, two Bessemer converters, blooming mill, rolling mill, continuous caster, slab yard, and auxiliary equipment. It supplied hot metal for the open hearth furnaces at Steubenville North and Bessemer slabs for Benwood Works. ** The '''Steubenville South Works''' in ], was connected to the North Works by a standard gauge railroad. There were three blast furnaces and two Bessemer converters in operation there along with a blooming mill and auxiliary equipment. The South Works supplied hot metal for the open hearths at the North Works and Bessemer slabs for the Benwood Works.
** Steubenville East in ], which featured 314 coking ovens for Steubenville North and South. ** The '''Steubenville East Works''' in ], was connected to the North Works by a railway bridge and produced coke and coke oven gas required for the manufacturing operations. It consisted of 314 coke ovens and those facilities also include a modern plant for the recovery of by-products from coke oven gas.
* '''Steelcrete Works''', adjacent to Beech Bottom Works, manufactured expanded metal, metal lath, and accessories. It also produced Steelcrete bank vaults, reinforced mesh for buildings, stair treads, partitions, and miscellaneous items. * '''Steelcrete Works''', adjacent to Beech Bottom Works, manufactured expanded metal, metal lath, and accessories. It also produced Steelcrete bank vaults, reinforced mesh for buildings, stair treads, partitions, and miscellaneous items.
* '''Wheeling Works''' at Wheeling, which fabricated containers, stove pipe and furnace pipe, electric and gas dryers, roofing accessories, floor and roof decking, gasoline tanks for automobiles, and miscellaneous automobile parts. * '''Wheeling Works''' at Wheeling, which fabricated containers, stove pipe and furnace pipe, electric and gas dryers, roofing accessories, floor and roof decking, gasoline tanks for automobiles, and miscellaneous automobile parts.
Line 36: Line 34:


==History== ==History==
Wheeling Steel Corporation was organized on June 21, 1920.<ref name=10K/> Wheeling Steel Corporation was organized on June 21, 1920.<ref name=10K/> It consisted largely of the assets of the ] and associated families in the Ohio valley and remained under their control for many years.


In 1968, Wheeling Steel merged with Pittsburgh Steel to become the 9th-largest steelmaker in the United States at the time.
The company was slow to modernize its high-cost facilities and, in 1985, the company filed for ] protection.<ref name=helps>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/07/19/business/bankruptcy-helps-a-steelmaker.html | title=Bankruptcy Helps a Steelmaker | first=JONATHAN P. | last=HICKS | publisher=] | date=July 19, 1990}}</ref>


In 1986, the company closed a rail mill that employed 200 people.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/12/25/business/wheeling-to-close-rail-mill.html | title=Wheeling To Close Rail Mill | publisher=] | date=December 25, 1986}}</ref> The company was slow to modernize its high-cost facilities and accumulated excess debt following a series of modernization programs in the 1960s and 1970s. Combined with labor contract disagreements and a pension crisis in the 1980s, the company filed for ] protection in 1985.<ref name=helps>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/07/19/business/bankruptcy-helps-a-steelmaker.html | title=Bankruptcy Helps a Steelmaker | first=JONATHAN P. | last=HICKS | work=] | date=July 19, 1990}}</ref>


In 1986, the company closed the Monessen rail mill that employed 200 people.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/12/25/business/wheeling-to-close-rail-mill.html | title=Wheeling To Close Rail Mill | work=] | date=December 25, 1986}}</ref> That same year, Wheeling-Pitt opened a galvanizing plant for automotive sheet steel as a joint-venture with ] in Follansbee, WV.
The company reduced its employee count from 8,500 in 1985 to 6,500 in 1990.<ref name=helps/>


The company reduced its employee count from 8,500 in 1985 to 6,500 in 1990.<ref name=helps/> In 1994, Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel reorganized into a holding-company structure, where the newly formed WHX Corporation would become the parent company of Wheeling Pittsburgh Steel.
In 2001, the company filed for bankruptcy protection again and in 2003, the company emerged from bankruptcy protection.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/stories/2003/07/28/daily60.html | title=Wheeling-Pitt emerges from bankruptcy protection | publisher=] | date=August 1, 2003}}</ref>


Esmark acquired the company in November 2007 after a proxy battle.<ref>{{cite press release | url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20071127006220/en/Wheeling-Pittsburgh-Corporation-Esmark-Incorporated-Stockholders-Approve-Combination | title=Wheeling-Pittsburgh Corporation and Esmark Incorporated Stockholders Approve Combination | publisher=] | date=November 27, 2007}}</ref> In 2001, the company filed for bankruptcy protection again after posting a major loss and increasing debt. In 2003, the company emerged from bankruptcy protection after a reorganization that would make it independent of the WHX Corporation.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/stories/2003/07/28/daily60.html | title=Wheeling-Pitt emerges from bankruptcy protection | publisher=] | date=August 1, 2003}}</ref>


In an effort to revitalize their aging steelmaking facilities and preserve jobs, Wheeling-Pitt received a $12.5 million loan from Ohio in 2003 to assist in installing a modern ] at Steubenville South, supplanting the blast furnace still in use there.<ref>{{cite press release | url= https://www.recyclingtoday.com/article/ohio-board-oks--12-million-loan-for-wheeling-pitt-/ | title=Ohio Board OKs $12 Million Loan For Wheeling-Pitt | publisher=Recycling Today | date=May 5, 2005}}</ref> The EAF made its first heat in November 2004, and the remaining blast furnace of Steubenville North was idled along with the rest of that facility in May 2005.<ref>{{cite press release | url=https://archive.triblive.com/news/wheeling-pitt-to-idle-1899-blast-furnace-2/ | title= Wheeling-Pitt to idle 1899 blast furnace | publisher=] | date=May 5, 2005}}</ref>
In August 2008, Severstal acquired Esmark’s Wheeling-Pittsburgh holdings for $1.25 billion.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://triblive.com/home/1896057-74/steel-esmark-wheeling-million-pittsburgh-bankruptcy-billion-keegan-severstal-steelmaker | title=RG Steel files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection | first=THOMAS | last=OLSON | publisher=] | date=May 31, 2012}}</ref>


Esmark acquired the company in November 2007 after a proxy battle.<ref>{{cite press release | url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20071127006220/en/Wheeling-Pittsburgh-Corporation-Esmark-Incorporated-Stockholders-Approve-Combination | title=Wheeling-Pittsburgh Corporation and Esmark Incorporated Stockholders Approve Combination | publisher=] | date=November 27, 2007}}</ref> In May 2008, Esmark shut down the Allenport Works, laying off 240 people.<ref>{{cite press release | url=https://archive.triblive.com/news/allenport-mill-has-new-owner-but-no-hope-for-reopening/#ixzz2ir1m85ym | title=Allenport mill has new owner, but no hope for reopening | publisher=] | date=March 3, 2011}}</ref>
In 2011, Severstal sold the operations to RG Steel.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.post-gazette.com/businessnews/2011/03/03/Severstal-selling-Wheeling-Pitt-mills-and-other-assets/stories/201103030702 | title=Severstal selling Wheeling-Pitt mills and other assets | publisher=] | date=March 3, 2011}}</ref>

In August 2008, ] acquired Esmark's Wheeling-Pittsburgh holdings for $1.25 billion.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://triblive.com/home/1896057-74/steel-esmark-wheeling-million-pittsburgh-bankruptcy-billion-keegan-severstal-steelmaker | title=RG Steel files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection | first=THOMAS | last=OLSON | publisher=] | date=May 31, 2012}}</ref>

In 2009, Severstal idled most of the former Wheeling-Pitt operations, including Steubenville South and the manufacturing operations in Wheeling. The move laid off over 3,100 workers in West Virginia and Ohio.<ref>{{cite news | url= https://www.reuters.com/article/severstal/steelmaker-severstal-idling-more-production-in-u-s-idUSN0744550420090507 | title= Steelmaker Severstal idling more production in U.S. | publisher=] | date=May 5, 2009}}</ref>

In 2011, Severstal sold the former Wheeling-Pitt steelmaking operations to RG Steel, a subsidiary of ].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.post-gazette.com/businessnews/2011/03/03/Severstal-selling-Wheeling-Pitt-mills-and-other-assets/stories/201103030702 | title=Severstal selling Wheeling-Pitt mills and other assets | publisher=] | date=March 3, 2011}}</ref>


In 2012, RG Steel filed for bankruptcy protection and initiated layoffs.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.wfmj.com/story/18614506/rg-steel-announcing | title=RG Steel to close Warren plant, laying off 1,000 employees | publisher=] | date=May 30, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/rgsteel-bankruptcy/update-4-rg-steel-files-ch-11-cites-steel-market-deterioration-idUSL1E8GV36W20120531 | title=RG Steel files Ch 11; cites steel market deterioration | publisher=] | date=May 31, 2012}}</ref> In 2012, RG Steel filed for bankruptcy protection and initiated layoffs.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.wfmj.com/story/18614506/rg-steel-announcing | title=RG Steel to close Warren plant, laying off 1,000 employees | publisher=] | date=May 30, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/rgsteel-bankruptcy/update-4-rg-steel-files-ch-11-cites-steel-market-deterioration-idUSL1E8GV36W20120531 | title=RG Steel files Ch 11; cites steel market deterioration | publisher=] | date=May 31, 2012}}</ref>


As part of the Chapter 11 bankruptcy liquidation of RG Steel, the Yorkville, Ohio plant was sold back to Esmark, the Martins Ferry, Ohio plant was sold to a local businessman, and the Steubenville, Ohio plant was sold to the metal recycler Herman Strauss.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.law360.com/articles/346980/rg-steel-secures-15m-stalking-horse-bid-for-ohio-plant | title=RG Steel Secures $15M Stalking Horse Bid For Ohio Plant | first=Jamie | last=Santo | publisher=] | date=June 4, 2012}}</ref> The Mingo Junction mill was purchased by a group of investors called Acero Junction and was refurbished.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.post-gazette.com/business/pittsburgh-company-news/2016/12/12/Mingo-Junction-s-zombie-mill-gets-new-life/stories/201612110046 | title=New life for Mingo Junction's zombie steel mill? | publisher=] | date=December 12, 2016}}</ref> As part of the Chapter 11 bankruptcy liquidation of RG Steel, the Yorkville, Ohio plant was sold back to Esmark, the Martins Ferry, Ohio plant was sold to a local businessman, and the Steubenville, Ohio plant was sold to the metal recycler Herman Strauss.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.law360.com/articles/346980/rg-steel-secures-15m-stalking-horse-bid-for-ohio-plant | title=RG Steel Secures $15M Stalking Horse Bid For Ohio Plant | first=Jamie | last=Santo | publisher=] | date=June 4, 2012}}</ref>


Steubenville South was purchased and refurbished by a group of investors called Acero Junction,<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.post-gazette.com/business/pittsburgh-company-news/2016/12/12/Mingo-Junction-s-zombie-mill-gets-new-life/stories/201612110046 | title=New life for Mingo Junction's zombie steel mill? | publisher=] | date=December 12, 2016}}</ref> who sold the mill to ] for $80.81 million in June 2018.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.theintelligencer.net/news/top-headlines/2018/06/mingo-junction-steel-mill-purchase-almost-complete/ | title=Mingo Junction Steel Mill Purchase Almost Complete | publisher=] | date=June 18, 2018}}</ref> The mill, now operated as JSW Steel Ohio, began melting and casting steel that December.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://wtov9.com/news/local/furnace-restarts-in-mingo-junction?fbclid=IwAR1n0XfXvyR8N-A99WGGr4rZhUlIqvATEQgGVmdSmdsjbRr4GP3Qh7tIL9k | title=Furnace restarts in Mingo Junction | publisher=WTOV9 FOX | date=December 18, 2018}}</ref> In July 2020, JSW Steel Ohio was idled indefinitely pending upgrade or replacement of the electric arc furnace, affecting 160 employees.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://wtov9.com/news/local/jsw-steel-idling-mingo-junction-mill | title=Furnace restarts in Mingo Junction | publisher=WTOV9 FOX | date=July 15, 2020}}</ref> On March 8, 2021, JSW Steel announced that the upgrade of the electric arc furnace had been completed, the mill would restart the following week. The mill is now capable of producing 12 inch mini-slabs for JSW Steel's pipe and plate facility in Baytown, Texas.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.tenova.com/news/detail/tenova-new-consteelr-eaf-started-up-at-jsw-steel-usa/ | title=Tenova New Consteel® EAF Started-Up at JSW Steel USA | publisher=] | date=March 18, 2021}}</ref>
==Further reading==

* at AbandonedOnline.net
The Follansbee, WV coke-making facility was retained by Severstal until 2014, when it was sold to ]<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theintelligencer.net/news/community/2014/07/ak-steel-buys-old-coke-plant/ | title=AK Steel Buys Old Coke Plant | publisher=] | date=July 23, 2014}}.</ref> The facility is currently operated as Mountain State Carbon, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of AK Steel.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mountain State Carbon |url=https://www.aksteel.com/about-us/locations/mountain-state-carbon |website=AK Steel Corporation |accessdate=20 September 2019}}</ref> On February 11, 2022, ], the owner and operator of the facility since its acquisition of AK Steel in 2020, announced that it would permanently close Mountain State Carbon in the second quarter of 2022, citing the increased usage of ] and scrap in the company's steelmaking decreasing its need for coke. All 288 employees at the facility will be offered positions within Cleveland Cliffs, with a staff of 15 being maintained to comply with the regulations of decommissioning the coke works.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mountain State Carbon plant in Follansbee to close |url=https://www.reviewonline.com/news/local-news/2022/02/mountain-state-carbon-plant-in-follansbee-to-close/ |website=] |date=February 12, 2022}}</ref>

The former Beech Bottom Works site is being refurbished by aluminum producer Jupiter Aluminum to coat aluminum coils.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.weirtondailytimes.com/news/local-news/2019/03/jupiter-aluminum-making-12m-investment-at-beech-bottom/ | title=Jupiter Aluminum making $12M investment at Beech Bottom | publisher=Weirton Daily Times | date=March 26, 2019}}</ref>


==References== ==References==
{{reflist|1}} {{Reflist|1}}

==Further reading==
* at AbandonedOnline.net
* at West Virginia State Archives

==External links==
*{{HAER |survey=OH-129 |id=oh1982 |title=Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Corporation, North Plant, Steubenville, Jefferson County, OH |photos=35 |cap=3}}

{{Authority control}}


] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
Line 70: Line 86:
] ]
] ]
]

Latest revision as of 14:59, 14 September 2024

Wheeling-Pittsburgh Corporation
Company typeDefunct
IndustryMetals
Founded1920
FateAcquired then liquidated
SuccessorRG Steel, LLC (bankrupt entity)
HeadquartersPittsburgh, Pennsylvania (1920–1986)
Wheeling, West Virginia (1986–2013)
Productsraw steel
galvanized steel
substrate steel
coils
bridge building
sheet metal
tin
coke
Number of employees3,133 (2006)

Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel was a steel manufacturer based in Wheeling, West Virginia.

Operations

The company owned the following factories, all of which are between Benwood, West Virginia, and Steubenville, Ohio.

  • Ackermann Works at Wheeling, which produced pressed and drawn steel stampings used in the automotive and appliance industries.
  • Beech Bottom Works at Beech Bottom, West Virginia, which consisted of sheet mills for producing hot rolled electrical sheets used by electrical equipment manufacturers. It also had facilities for coating long terne sheets produced by the Yorkville Works.
  • Benwood Works at Benwood, West Virginia, which consisted of 2 pipe mills with slabs supplied from Steubenville Works.
  • LaBelle Works at Wheeling, which manufactured cut nails.
  • Martins Ferry Works at Martins Ferry, Ohio, which produced galvanized sheets, galvanized roofing and accessories, corrugated culverts, and hand-dipped items. It featured two continuous galvanizing lines where coils of steel strips were processed, galvanized, and treated and sold under the SofTite brand. A second galvanizing line went into operation in November 1953 at a cost of $3 million.
  • Steubenville Works, which consisted of three integrated operations:
    • At the Steubenville North Works in Steubenville, Ohio, there were two blast furnaces, eleven open hearth furnaces, a blooming mill, a hot strip mill and cold reduction mills. The principal products of the North Works included hot-rolled sheets, plates, cold rolled sheets, and coils.
    • The Steubenville South Works in Mingo Junction, Ohio, was connected to the North Works by a standard gauge railroad. There were three blast furnaces and two Bessemer converters in operation there along with a blooming mill and auxiliary equipment. The South Works supplied hot metal for the open hearths at the North Works and Bessemer slabs for the Benwood Works.
    • The Steubenville East Works in Follansbee, West Virginia, was connected to the North Works by a railway bridge and produced coke and coke oven gas required for the manufacturing operations. It consisted of 314 coke ovens and those facilities also include a modern plant for the recovery of by-products from coke oven gas.
  • Steelcrete Works, adjacent to Beech Bottom Works, manufactured expanded metal, metal lath, and accessories. It also produced Steelcrete bank vaults, reinforced mesh for buildings, stair treads, partitions, and miscellaneous items.
  • Wheeling Works at Wheeling, which fabricated containers, stove pipe and furnace pipe, electric and gas dryers, roofing accessories, floor and roof decking, gasoline tanks for automobiles, and miscellaneous automobile parts.
  • Yorkville Works at Yorkville, Ohio, which consisted of the first cold reduced black plate for tinning. The first tandem mill of its kind was installed in 1928. The facility produced electrolytic and hot-dipped tinplate, black plate, and terneplate. It also had a metal decorating plant for coating and lithographing tin, terne, and black plate, and two electrolytic tin plate lines that produced tin plate at up to 1,000 feet per minute.

Wheeling Steel was acquired by Pittsburgh Steel to form the Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Corporation in December 1968. The merger added:

History

Wheeling Steel Corporation was organized on June 21, 1920. It consisted largely of the assets of the Whitaker iron family and associated families in the Ohio valley and remained under their control for many years.

In 1968, Wheeling Steel merged with Pittsburgh Steel to become the 9th-largest steelmaker in the United States at the time.

The company was slow to modernize its high-cost facilities and accumulated excess debt following a series of modernization programs in the 1960s and 1970s. Combined with labor contract disagreements and a pension crisis in the 1980s, the company filed for bankruptcy protection in 1985.

In 1986, the company closed the Monessen rail mill that employed 200 people. That same year, Wheeling-Pitt opened a galvanizing plant for automotive sheet steel as a joint-venture with Nippon Steel in Follansbee, WV.

The company reduced its employee count from 8,500 in 1985 to 6,500 in 1990. In 1994, Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel reorganized into a holding-company structure, where the newly formed WHX Corporation would become the parent company of Wheeling Pittsburgh Steel.

In 2001, the company filed for bankruptcy protection again after posting a major loss and increasing debt. In 2003, the company emerged from bankruptcy protection after a reorganization that would make it independent of the WHX Corporation.

In an effort to revitalize their aging steelmaking facilities and preserve jobs, Wheeling-Pitt received a $12.5 million loan from Ohio in 2003 to assist in installing a modern electric arc furnace at Steubenville South, supplanting the blast furnace still in use there. The EAF made its first heat in November 2004, and the remaining blast furnace of Steubenville North was idled along with the rest of that facility in May 2005.

Esmark acquired the company in November 2007 after a proxy battle. In May 2008, Esmark shut down the Allenport Works, laying off 240 people.

In August 2008, Severstal acquired Esmark's Wheeling-Pittsburgh holdings for $1.25 billion.

In 2009, Severstal idled most of the former Wheeling-Pitt operations, including Steubenville South and the manufacturing operations in Wheeling. The move laid off over 3,100 workers in West Virginia and Ohio.

In 2011, Severstal sold the former Wheeling-Pitt steelmaking operations to RG Steel, a subsidiary of Renco Group.

In 2012, RG Steel filed for bankruptcy protection and initiated layoffs.

As part of the Chapter 11 bankruptcy liquidation of RG Steel, the Yorkville, Ohio plant was sold back to Esmark, the Martins Ferry, Ohio plant was sold to a local businessman, and the Steubenville, Ohio plant was sold to the metal recycler Herman Strauss.

Steubenville South was purchased and refurbished by a group of investors called Acero Junction, who sold the mill to JSW Steel Ltd for $80.81 million in June 2018. The mill, now operated as JSW Steel Ohio, began melting and casting steel that December. In July 2020, JSW Steel Ohio was idled indefinitely pending upgrade or replacement of the electric arc furnace, affecting 160 employees. On March 8, 2021, JSW Steel announced that the upgrade of the electric arc furnace had been completed, the mill would restart the following week. The mill is now capable of producing 12 inch mini-slabs for JSW Steel's pipe and plate facility in Baytown, Texas.

The Follansbee, WV coke-making facility was retained by Severstal until 2014, when it was sold to AK Steel The facility is currently operated as Mountain State Carbon, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of AK Steel. On February 11, 2022, Cleveland-Cliffs, the owner and operator of the facility since its acquisition of AK Steel in 2020, announced that it would permanently close Mountain State Carbon in the second quarter of 2022, citing the increased usage of hot briquetted iron and scrap in the company's steelmaking decreasing its need for coke. All 288 employees at the facility will be offered positions within Cleveland Cliffs, with a staff of 15 being maintained to comply with the regulations of decommissioning the coke works.

The former Beech Bottom Works site is being refurbished by aluminum producer Jupiter Aluminum to coat aluminum coils.

References

  1. ^ Wheeling-Pittsburgh Corporation 2006 Form 10-K Annual Report
  2. ^ HICKS, JONATHAN P. (July 19, 1990). "Bankruptcy Helps a Steelmaker". The New York Times.
  3. "Wheeling To Close Rail Mill". The New York Times. December 25, 1986.
  4. "Wheeling-Pitt emerges from bankruptcy protection". American City Business Journals. August 1, 2003.
  5. "Ohio Board OKs $12 Million Loan For Wheeling-Pitt" (Press release). Recycling Today. May 5, 2005.
  6. "Wheeling-Pitt to idle 1899 blast furnace" (Press release). TribLive. May 5, 2005.
  7. "Wheeling-Pittsburgh Corporation and Esmark Incorporated Stockholders Approve Combination" (Press release). Business Wire. November 27, 2007.
  8. "Allenport mill has new owner, but no hope for reopening" (Press release). TribLive. March 3, 2011.
  9. OLSON, THOMAS (May 31, 2012). "RG Steel files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
  10. "Steelmaker Severstal idling more production in U.S." Reuters. May 5, 2009.
  11. "Severstal selling Wheeling-Pitt mills and other assets". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. March 3, 2011.
  12. "RG Steel to close Warren plant, laying off 1,000 employees". WFMJ-TV. May 30, 2012.
  13. "RG Steel files Ch 11; cites steel market deterioration". Reuters. May 31, 2012.
  14. Santo, Jamie (June 4, 2012). "RG Steel Secures $15M Stalking Horse Bid For Ohio Plant". Law360.
  15. "New life for Mingo Junction's zombie steel mill?". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. December 12, 2016.
  16. "Mingo Junction Steel Mill Purchase Almost Complete". The Intelligencer and Wheeling News Register. June 18, 2018.
  17. "Furnace restarts in Mingo Junction". WTOV9 FOX. December 18, 2018.
  18. "Furnace restarts in Mingo Junction". WTOV9 FOX. July 15, 2020.
  19. "Tenova New Consteel® EAF Started-Up at JSW Steel USA". Tenova. March 18, 2021.
  20. "AK Steel Buys Old Coke Plant". The Intelligencer and Wheeling News Register. July 23, 2014..
  21. "Mountain State Carbon". AK Steel Corporation. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  22. "Mountain State Carbon plant in Follansbee to close". The Review (East Liverpool). February 12, 2022.
  23. "Jupiter Aluminum making $12M investment at Beech Bottom". Weirton Daily Times. March 26, 2019.

Further reading

External links

Categories: