Butler County steelmaker AK Steel on Monday announced plans to spend $29 million to upgrade a production line at its Michigan steel plant Dearborn Works to make a more advanced steel product that “significantly” improves formability at higher strength levels.
The new product, which AK Steel claims is one of the first of its kind commercially available, gives the company’s automotive customers greater opportunities for lightweighting.
AK Steel will modify its existing Hot Dip Galvanizing Line at Dearborn Works to accommodate the new production, a project to be completed by fall of next year. And the steel manufacturer expects to begin shipping the new steel by early 2017.
“We are excited to take this major step forward to provide next-generation advanced high strength steels that meet our customers’ needs,” said James Wainscott, chairman, president and chief executive officer of AK Steel, in a written statement.
“These new process and product technologies will enable us to introduce a family of steels that have improved formability, and give automakers greater flexibility and improved safety performance to lightweight their vehicles. By working closely with our customers, we are taking this strategic step forward to design and produce outstanding products to help them meet Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards,” Wainscott said.
Dearborn Works was selected for the project due to the configuration of its existing galvanizing line and state-of-the-art technology, according to AK Steel.
West Chester Twp.-based AK Steel acquired Dearborn Works in September of last year.
Separately, this year, AK Steel announced plans to build a new, $36 million world-class Research and Innovation Center in Middletown. The new facility will be customer-focused, providing advanced technical support to AK Steel customers, and enhance the company’s capabilities to bring new products to the marketplace including new stainless steels, high efficiency electrical steels, as well as high strength steels when it opens in late 2016, according to the company
Source: Journal News
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