Wheeling-Pitt Electric Arc Furnace Burns First Heat
WHEELING, W.Va. -- Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Corp's continuous electric arc furnace at the company's Mingo Junction, Ohio, plant completed its first heat at 11:50 a.m. yesterday, less than 16 months after the project was authorized. The Consteel EAF is a continuous steelmaking furnace. Its integration into Wheeling-Pittsburgh's traditional blast furnace hot end is unique in the United States, according to James G. Bradley, chief executive officer."Today marks the beginning of a new era for our company and our employees," Bradley said. "We had to overcome many obstacles to reach this goal. I cannot say enough about the hard work, determination and expertise that our employees have brought to this task. Together with the leadership of the United Steelworkers of America and government officials from West Virginia and Ohio, we accomplished something that will have a positive impact on the Upper Ohio Valley for many years to come."The electric arc furnace's advanced features include a continuous scrap feed conveyor, a preheating process that heats the scrap steel used to charge the furnace to 1,000 degrees and the ability use either 100% scrap or a mix of scrap and liquid iron. The furnace will produce steel that meets all Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel's current requirements, according to Don Keaton, vice president of steel manufacturing and procurement.Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel will decommission its No. 1 blast furnace, located in Steubenville, Ohio, from production next year, sometime after the EAF reaches full capacity. The company's No. 5 blast furnace, located in Mingo Junction, will continue to operate, Keaton said.Wheeling-Pittsburgh Corp., together with its primary subsidiary, Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Corp., is a metal products company with 3,100 employees and facilities in Steubenville, Mingo Junction, Yorkville, and Martins Ferry, Ohio; Beech Bottom and Follansbee, W.Va.; and Allenport, Pa.Visit Wheeling-Pittsburgh Corp. at www.wpsc.com "