Planning, planning, more planning as Charter gears up for leap

Nov 05, 2004 | 08:25 AM | Jim Leonard

Even though the ceremonial groundbreaking doesn't take place until Nov. 12, Charter Steel Inc. is deep into the nitty-gritty of a $90-million expansion project at its bar and rod rolling mill in Cuyahoga Heights, Ohio.

The Mequon, Wis.,-based company has cleared land and razed buildings for construction of its new steel facility, which will include an 80-ton electric furnace, a ladle metallurgy station, a vacuum-degassing unit and a billet-casting facility. The plant is slated for completion by April 2006 and will employ 140 people when fully staffed.

"The majority of the land has been cleared and most of the old buildings have been razed," Jack Lynch, Charter Steel's national sales and marketing manager, said. "Primary activity right now is centered around the engineering. Layout of the site, managing the utility requirements and so forth. All major steel permitting is in place. And we are visiting vendors to ensure that all equipment is delivered on time."....