U.S. Steel reports it has accepted delivery of a key component of its $28.3 million investment in upgrades at the Great Lakes Works facility in Ecorse, Mich.—a state-of-the-art, fiber-optic laser beam welder.
The welder will serve the facility’s pickle line, which will also be outfitted with dual-entry shears, capable of serving two pass lines, during a 30-day outage scheduled to begin next month.
These upgrades address two critical steps in continuous pickle line processing, explains U.S. Steel. The laser welder connects the end of one steel coil to the beginning of the next, allowing the steel to move continuously through the line. The dual-pass entry shears crop any anomalies prior to welding two coils together.
The company says these upgrades will enable Great Lakes Works to produce advanced high-strength steel.
“We are kickstarting a powerful new chapter for steelmaking in Michigan,” said executive vice president Scott Buckiso. “This is just one more example of how we are strengthening facilities and leveraging modern technology to ensure U.S. Steel remains an industry leader now and well into the future.”
The $28.3 million investment is both funding upgrades and introducing new technologies that aim to strengthen U.S. Steel’s competitiveness, says the company, by increasing operating efficiency and supporting more reliable production. Customers will benefit from elevated product quality and timelier delivery.
“The strength of Great Lakes Works is its people,” said president & CEO David B. Burritt. “This investment gives them modern tools, builds new skills, and helps ensure steelmaking has a strong future in Michigan.”
