A new hot strip mill at U.S. Steel’s Mon Valley Works will incorporate walking beam furnaces for slab reheating as part of a nearly $3 billion modernization project aimed at increasing steel production capacity and improving efficiency.
The U.S. Steel Board of Directors has approved full funding for the project at the company’s Edgar Thompson Plant near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The new mill will replace aging equipment and increase annual production capacity at Mon Valley Works from approximately 2.2 million tons to approximately 3.5 million tons.
New walking beam furnaces will reheat steel slabs before rolling and will operate alongside an in-line slab sizing press. The equipment is designed to use less fuel, eliminate a cutting step, reduce scrap, and improve efficiency from reheating through production.
The hot strip mill will transform steel slabs into thin coils for applications including automotive, appliances, construction, and line pipe. The project is also expected to broaden the range of steels that U.S. Steel can produce at the facility.
Executive Vice President and Chief Manufacturing Officer
U.S. Steel
“This investment gives us a chance to produce steel for products that will be in demand for decades to come and compete across the automotive, appliance, and line pipe markets like never before,” said Scott Buckiso, U.S. Steel executive vice president and chief manufacturing officer.
Construction is expected to begin following receipt of the necessary permits, with initial production targeted for late 2029.
Separately, construction is underway on an approximately $100 million slag granulator at the Edgar Thompson Plant. The system will cool and process blast furnace slag in a closed system for use in cement and construction applications.
Press release is available in its original form here.
