Nucor Crawfordsville: refining iron-carbide injection, rolling new grades

摘要

The steel industry awaits hard data on Nucor's use of iron carbide at its EAFs in Crawfordsville, Ind. But the plant is focusing more on expanding its product line by upgrading equipment and improving operations. Like some smaller integrated mills such as WCI and Acme Steel, Nucor's first sheet minimill is producing new grades in an effort to broaden its customer base and keep its order books full. Besides producing a steady stream of type 409 stainless, the mill now is rolling high-carbon grades (AISI 1050 grade), and it continues to debug the melting and rolling of 304 stainless steel. The plant also is increasing its finishing capacity for carbon and stainless steels, and it plans to begin rolling thinner at the hot-strip and cold-rolling mills.