Ohio Steel Industry Advisory Council
Winter 1999
On
the Steel Front
Steel Front Sidebars
Legislative Lookout
Steel Imports Issue on the Web
Steel At Work: Steel Roofing Captures Large Share of New
Building Market
1999 Capital Improvements
Two New Council Members
1998 Ohio Appliance Roundup Careers
in Steel Debuts as New
Section of Ohio Steel Web Site A new section on
the Ohio Steel Council Web site is expected to be a hit this year with
career counselors and students at secondary schools and colleges. The new Careers
in Steelsection, which went live in December several months ahead
of schedule, offers comprehensive career guidance and information for
those interested in the steel industry, including summary descriptions
of eight steel positions, interviews with managers and steelworkers, a
career quiz, advice for job searching, and links to Council member companies.
See www.ohiosteel.org. "The new site is vibrant,
colorful and exciting. We expect there will be lots of interest from secondary
school and college students with technical backgrounds, as well as from
educators who are helping their students to explore career options," said
Dr. Nicholas Hall, chairman of the Council's Education Committee and professor
of management sciences and industrial and systems engineering atThe
Ohio State University. "The site is a place
where students can go to gather information about salaries and educational
requirements for specific positions in the steel industry. It is also
a place where they can explore more general information about the steel
industry and what it has to offer them," Hall added. The site begins with
a four-page introduction, with photographs illustrating the visually dynamic
steel industry and its foundation in teamwork. The main component
of the new site contains job descriptions covering an array of opportunities
from mechanical and electrical maintenance to finance and management positions. In the education section
of the site, Web visitors may click on one of many college degrees to
learn what opportunities are available for those with an educational background
in that area. The Careers in
Steelsite also profiles actual people working in the steel industry,
with photographs and background on their work history and how they came
to choose the steel industry. Two final sections
give Web visitors detailed advice from human resources professionals on
how to apply for a job and prepare for an interview. A sample resume and
cover letter are provided, as well as job posting links. Promotion of the site
is under way with production of an eye-catching poster to be available
wherever students might see it.
[back
to top] - North
Star Receives ISO Certification forYoungstown
Facility
North Star Steel'sTubular Division recycling mini-mill in Youngstown
received ISO 9002 certification recently. It is the sixth North Star
steel company facility to receive certification.
- USS/KOBE Plans
Upgrade
USS/KOBE Steel Companywill revamp the five-strand bloom caster's
runout area at its facility in Lorain. The upgrade, which will cost
about $6,200,000, will enable the steelmaker to cast enlarged bloom
sizes 12.9 to 17.5 inches.
- Timken Honored
as Innovative Company
Information Week magazine has named The Timken Companyin Canton as one of the 500 most innovative companies. The magazine
recognized companies for their use of information technology as a means
to open new markets.
- Steelworkers,
Republic Honored by Governor
The Canton Career Development Program, sponsored by theUnited Steelworkers
of America and Republic Engineered Steels, Inc., was awarded
the 1998 Ohio Governor's Workforce Excellence Award.
- AK Steel Named
to Forbes Platinum 400 List
Forbes magazine namedAK Steel Corporationto its new Platinum
400 list of the countryıs best performing companies. Forbes based its
selections on sales growth, net income growth and return on capital.
In addition, AK Steel's Middletown, Ohio, cold mill broke its own world
productivity record by rolling 3.25 million tons in 1998, averaging
more than 400 tons per hour.
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Ohio
Steel Producers, Elected Officials
Call for Action on Unfair Imports Ohio steel producers
continue to work with elected officials to urge the Clinton administration
to take quick, effective action to stem the tide of unfairly traded steel
imports. The unfairly traded
imports have sent domestic steel prices plummeting and caused hundreds
of layoffs in Ohio and throughout the country. U.S. Senator Mike
DeWine, R-Ohio, sent a letter to Vice President Al Gore late last year
urging the administration to take swift action on the imports problem
and to preempt possible bureaucratic disagreements among Washington agencies
looking into the problem. "We have been appreciative
of Senator DeWine's efforts concerning unfairly traded steel imports.
He and other elected officials, including Senator George Voinovich, have
been quick to grasp the imperative nature of this crisis in protecting
U.S. interests against a fundamentally unfair and illegal situation,"
said George Manos, co-chairman of the Ohio Steel Council and vice president
of business processes forUSS/KOBE Steel Co. in Lorain. DeWine's call to action
came after both the Ohio House and Senate voted in favor of a resolution
calling for a special presidential task force to monitor steel imports.
The resolution also called for a one-year ban on steel imports from countries
found to be in violation of international trade agreements. The resolution was
backed by former Ohio Senator Gary Suhadolnik, R-Strongsville, and Representative
Gary Cates, R-West Chester, a member of the Ohio Steel Council. Suhadolnik
served on the Council in 1998. In addition, the sponsor of the resolution,
Ohio Senator Anthony Latell, D-Girard, brought the resolution before the
Council of State Governments, which adopted a similar version. Meanwhile, the "Stand
Up for Steel" campaign, sponsored by steel producers and theUnited
Steelworkers of America, has garnered considerable media attention
with rallies and events in Columbus, Warren and Cleveland. Two unions and at
least a dozen steel producers, including Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Corp.
in Steubenville and LTV Steel Co. in Cleveland, have filed complaints
against Japan, Russia and Brazil, accusing them of "dumping" hot-rolled
carbon steel on the U.S. market. Those trade cases are under review. Meanwhile, steel producers
and steelworkers, disappointed with Clinton's failure to impose restraints
on imports, continue to call for more effective action. Steel Imports Issue
on the Web -United Steelworkers of Americahas a new Web site
on fair trade issues at www.fairtradewatch.org. It can be reached directly
or through the USWA's home page at www.uswa.org. Also, see the Ohio Steel
Councilıs new special section on imports at www.ohiosteel.org.
[back
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Imports Issue on the Web Steel Imports Issue
on the Web - United Steelworkers of America has a new Web site on fair
trade issues at www.fairtradewatch.org. It can be reached directly or
through the USWAıs home page at www.uswa.org. Also, see the Ohio Steel
Councilıs new special section on imports at www.ohiosteel.org.
[back
to top] Steel
Roofing Captures Large Share
of New Building Market Ohio steel producers
are among those supplying base materials for standing seam metal roofing,
a relatively new building product favored among builders. Standing seam metal
roofing is durable, puncture resistant, affordable and strong in extreme
weather. In the last several years, this steel roofing system has been
used in about 50 percent of all new low-rise commercial, industrial and
institutional buildings. It can now be seen on everything from shopping
centers to schools, churches to libraries, skyscrapers to homes. The high-profile use
in new buildings has carried over into the re-roofing market where standing
seam metal roofing is used as a replacement for built-up or single-ply
systems. Standing seam metal
roofing is made of steel and resists corrosion with the help of zinc,
aluminum or aluminum-zinc coatings. "New uses of steel
are being discovered daily, especially in the building and construction
fields. Its use is widespread, primarily because builders recognize that
steel is one of the most durable materials available," said Tony Clark,
national accounts manager for Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel's Wheeling Corrugating
Division. Unlike flat built-up
roofs that require frequent maintenance, the standing seam metal roof
will offer 20 years or more of trouble-free performance with little or
no maintenance. Further, the panel
fastening system used in standing seam metal roofing is designed to handle
the potentially damaging effects of thermal movement. The metal panels
are locked into place by clips inside a raised seam standing two or three
inches above the roof surface. The clips allow for some play, giving the
panel room to expand and contract with temperature changes. Some benefits of standing
seam metal roofing: - The roof expands
and contracts independent of the insulation, giving it a floating quality.
- Life-cycle costs
are lower than for any other type of roof. Maintenance is minimal.
- In most retrofit
projects, standing steel can be installed right over the existing roof,
eliminating the cost, risk and disruption of tearing off the old roof.
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Ohio
Steel Producers to Invest $538 Million
in 1999 Capital Improvements Ohio Steel Producers
to Invest $538 Million in 1999 Capital Improvements Ohio steel producers
plan to invest in excess of $538 million in capital improvements in 1999.
This is an increase of more than $100 million over 1998. George Manos, co-chairman
of the Council and vice president of business processes atUSS/KOBE
Steel Co.in Lorain, explained that the investment projections for
1999 are based on the expectation that the unfair trade situation can
be righted in a timely manner. "Ohio steel producers
are planning to go ahead with next year's schedule for heavy capital improvements,
in spite of the threat posed by unfairly traded steel imports," Manos
said. "We are determined to remain competitive and enhance job security
for Ohio steelworkers." The 1999 figures represent
several major projects that will begin or are continuing in 1999: - CSC Ltd.'s$100 million modernization in Warren, which includes installation of
ultra-high-power melting, continuous casting and other new technologies.
- North Star Steel
Ohio's$38 million in improvements to the Youngstown facility, including
installation of a new electric arc furnace, a ladle metallurgy furnace
and an industrial gases generating plant. These improvements will increase
capacity by 35 percent, reduce costs and improve product quality and
diversity.
The 1999 projections
follow several years of heavy investment in the Buckeye State. Since 1993,
Ohio steel producers have spent more than $3.3 billion on capital investments
statewide.
[back
to top] Ohio
Steel Council Welcomes Two New Members Ohio Steel Council
Welcomes Two New Members Two new representatives have been named to the
Ohio Steel Council, one forRepublic Engineered Steels, Inc.,in
Massillon and one forPittsburgh Logistics Systems, Inc.,a new
associate member of the Council. Joseph F. Lapinsky
is the new representative for Republic Engineered Steels, Inc., replacing
Harold Kelly, former co-chair of the Council, who has retired. Having served as president
of Republic's Hot Rolled Bar Division since 1997, Lapinsky was named in
1998 as president of Republic Engineered Steels and the newly formed Republic
Technologies International. Lapinsky worked for Copperweld Steel Co. and
headed his own consulting firm before moving to Republic in 1995 as general
manager of hot rolled bar operations. Lapinsky has been
a board member of the United Way and was chairman of the Warren Area Chamber
of Commerce. He received his MBA from Youngstown State University in 1984
and received a master's degree in industrial relations from West Virginia
University in 1973. Pittsburgh Logistics
was voted an associate member of the Council at the fall meeting after
the company filed a request. Based in Monaca, Pa., with a Midwestern regional
office in Orland Park, Ill., Pittsburgh Logistics services the transportation
needs of several Ohio steel producers. Representing Pittsburgh
Logistics on the Council is Gregg A. Troian, president of the company.
Troian has been appointed chair of the Councilıs newly formed transportation
committee. Previously, Troian
served as executive vice president of PGT Trucking Co. in Monaca, Pa.
Troian received his BS in business from the New York Institute of Technology
and presently serves on the Advisory Board of Pennsylvania State University,
Beaver campus.
[back
to top] 1998
Ohio Appliance Roundup Deemed Another Success Nearly 16,000 used
appliances were collected throughout the state in 1998 during the fourth
annual Ohio Appliance Recycling Roundup. The appliances were
turned over to the scrap recovery network, where their steel components
were separated and shipped to the Ohio steel industry for use in the making
of new steel. The Ohio Roundup is
the most successful and most comprehensive statewide appliance collection
effort in the U.S., according to the Steel Recycling Institute, which
has sponsored the event each year with the support of the Ohio Department
of Natural Resources, Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries and the
Ohio Steel Council. Statewide interest
in the program has been steady since its launch in 1995, when more than
8,000 appliances were collected. In 1997, a record number of appliances
- 30,446 - were collected, compared with more than 16,000 in 1996. "Ohio is a leader
on the steel recycling front," said Bill Heenan, president of the Steel
Recycling Institute. "The steady success with the collection effort demonstrates
the Buckeye State's commitment to this environmental initiative."
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