Zekelman Industries Buys First Hot Rolled Coil Alongside Charity Donation
Osceola, AR — Big River Steel, the world’s first Flex Mill™, has begun operations in its melt shop and hot mill. These are the third and fourth areas of the mill to be commissioned following the batch anneal facility and temper mill earlier this year. The first hot rolled coil produced was purchased by Zekelman Industries and will be sent to Atlas Tube, one of the company’s structural tube mills in Blytheville, Arkansas, just miles from Big River’s site. Zekelman Industries purchased the coil for $100,000 with the entire amount jointly contributed by Big River and Zekelman Industries to Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) and Arkansas Northeastern College (ANC).
Under construction since July 2014, Big River is commissioning some of the world’s newest steelmaking technology and will recycle approximately 2 million tons of scrap metal and other metallics to produce 1.6 million tons of finished steel products annually. The company’s Flex Mill™ is the first in North America to connect an electric arc furnace (EAF) to a Ruhrstahl Heraeus degasser and will be the only EAF mill in the United States to produce hot rolled steel as thick as 1” and as wide as 78”. Based on the technology being employed and the design of the facility, Big River will produce steel grades previously only available via integrated mills. When fully operational in early 2017, the mill will produce a range of material dimensions and strength levels never before produced in an EAF mill.
Dave Stickler, chief executive officer of Big River Steel, said, “We are thrilled to be commemorating this milestone alongside Zekelman Industries. The Northeast Arkansas community, home to both Big River and one of Zekelman’s most advanced facilities, has embraced our arrival with open arms. In terms of joining with Zekelman Industries in supporting Wounded Warrior Project and Arkansas Northeastern College, we are honored to be able to do this so early in the life of our company. Having spent over $1 million on training services provided by Arkansas Northeastern College over the past 18 months, we have an extremely strong relationship with the college and we look forward to expanding this relationship in the coming years as we grow and expand Big River.”
Barry Zekelman, chief executive officer and chairman of Zekelman Industries, stated, “Zekelman Industries has operated in Northeast Arkansas since 2007 and we have seen firsthand the quality of the workforce trained by ANC. My family and I have also had the honor of supporting the Wounded Warrior Project for several years. Big River’s willingness to join us in making these charitable contributions is much appreciated and we join others that operate industrial facilities in Northeast Arkansas in welcoming Big River to the community.”
Dr. James Shemwell, president of Arkansas Northeastern College, added, “I look forward to continuing to work with Big River Steel and Zekelman Industries in developing training and education course work so that graduates of Arkansas Northeastern College are fully prepared to meet the demands of advanced manufacturing.”
About Big River Steel
Big River Steel is located on 1,300 acres in Mississippi County, Arkansas bordered on the east by the Mississippi River and to the west by a main line railroad operated by BNSF. The $1.3 billion Flex Mill™ combines the best of integrated mills and EAF mills. Big River Steel was designed to produce a full range of advanced high-strength, lightweight steels, wide and thick steels, and electrical steels.
About Zekelman Industries
Zekelman Industries includes the operating divisions of Atlas Tube, Picoma, Energex Tube, Sharon Tube, Wheatland Tube and Z Modular. It is the largest independent manufacturer of hollow structural sections and steel pipe, and the top producer of electrical conduit and elbows, couplings and nipples in North America. Zekelman Industries delivers a broad range of industrial solutions that build its customers’ success.
