Steel

• Julius Uehlein, founding member of United Steelworkers, dies at 88 Dec 30, 2005

  Julius Bernard Uehlein, 88, a co-founder of the United Steelworkers union, has died in a nursing home in Washington, D.C., of cardiopulmonary failure brought on by pneumonia.

• IAS signs deal to supply Chinese plant with gauge, shape controls Dec 30, 2005

  Sapa Heat Transfer (Shanghai) Ltd., China, has signed an agreement under which Industrial Automation Services Inc. (IAS), Pittsburgh, will design, supply and commission a new hydraulic gap control, automatic gauge control, roll eccentricity compensation and shape control system for Sapa's new 4-high cold mill.

• Credit Suisse buys more Dofasco shares Dec 29, 2005

  The price of poker is going up, and Credit Suisse is buying into the game.

• Algoma pays $43M in advance for pensions Dec 29, 2005

  Algoma Steel Inc., Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, said Thursday it made an advance contribution to its pension plans of C$50 million ($43 million) in December in order to reduce 2005 income taxes and generate higher returns on the pension fund assets.

• ITC vote on rod 'tremendous win' for traders Dec 29, 2005

  A U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) decision to terminate a steel wire rod anti-dumping case against three countries indicates the commissioners felt the complaint was frivolous, according to the American Institute for International Steel (AIIS).

• Train derails, spills iron ore pellets from 26 rail cars in Newfoundland Dec 29, 2005

  A spill of iron ore pellets caused by the derailment of a Canadian train is expected to be cleaned up by Friday.

• US raw steel production inches 1% higher Dec 28, 2005

  U.S. raw steel output totaled 1,988,000 tons last week, a nearly 1-percent increase from 1,969,000 tons produced the previous week, as mills operated at an average capability utilization rate of 86 percent.

• US drilling climbs, Canada slumps Dec 28, 2005

  The number of drill rigs running in the United States rose by 12 last week, with the largest increase in Texas (up 11), but Canadian drilling activity slumped by 117 rigs.

• Wear plate imports facing Commerce review Dec 28, 2005

  The U.S. Commerce Department is initiating a "changed circumstances" review on imports of certain corrosion-resistant carbon steel flat products from Canada and Germany.

• Massey extends management pact with Blankenship for another year Dec 28, 2005

  Massey Energy Co., a major supplier of coking coal, has extended its contract with Don Blankenship, the company's chairman, president and chief executive officer.

• Handy & Harman Tube plant to pay $183,000 fine for air rule violations Dec 28, 2005

  A producer of specialty alloy tubes has agreed to pay more than $183,000 in civil penalties to settle alleged air-quality permit violations at its facility.

• Commerce decides to keep import duty on ball bearings Dec 28, 2005

  The U.S. Commerce Department has issued a preliminary determination to keep anti-dumping duties on ball bearings.

• Steel Dynamics appoints Brady ferrous resources vice president Dec 27, 2005

  Steel Dynamics Inc. (SDI) has promoted Richard J. Brady to vice president of ferrous resources.

• Siemens unit to supply plate mill for Jindal's new steel operations Dec 27, 2005

  Siemens AG's Industrial Solutions and Services (I&S) division in Erlangen, Germany, has received an order to supply a 5-meter-wide plate mill to Jindal Steel & Power Ltd.'s new integrated steel plant in the Angul district of Orissa, India.

• SMS Demag receives orders for pickling line, furnace equipment Dec 27, 2005

  SMS Demag AG, Dusseldorf, Germany, has received equipment contracts from China, India and Brazil.

• Senate rejection of Arctic oil drilling called upset for steel interests Dec 23, 2005

  The Senate's rejection of a plan to allow drilling for oil and natural gas in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) is being called a loss for the U.S. steel industry.

• If steel trading is no longer Man Ferrostaal's 'core business,' what is? Dec 23, 2005

  For Man Ferrostaal Inc., the future won't be driven by trading as usual. But, the company that's been a global steel trading powerhouse for the past several decades has no plans to leave the industry.

• Union seeks funds to help retrain Weirton staff Dec 23, 2005

  The battle to save the hot end of the Weirton, W.Va., operations of Mittal Steel USA, Chicago, isn't over, but union officials are taking steps to ensure proper training of their troops.

• China iron ore, steel prices steady; outlook mixed on future direction Dec 23, 2005

  Iron ore and steel prices in China are largely unmoved in quiet end-of-year trading, market participants said.

• After a year of haggling, Stelco's Courtney Pratt pauses to take stock Dec 23, 2005

  Courtney Pratt hasn't been spending a lot of time in bed these days, but he readily admits he is getting more sleep.

• Steel 'beefs' at WTO a tough cut, for now Dec 23, 2005

  As an experienced international attorney representing various trade interests, Gary N. Horlick has seen more than his share of beefs settled at the negotiating table. But even a rock-hard chunk of overcooked steak might be easier to cut than a deal on dismantling trade barriers in manufacturing judging by recent events in Hong Kong.

• Talley Metals sets 10% alloy hike Dec 22, 2005

  Talley Metals plans to increase base prices on all premium melted alloys in bar form by about 10 percent, effective with all new orders and shipments Jan. 2.

• AK plans $8.5M plant to make large-diameter stainless tube for trucks Dec 22, 2005

  New truck emissions standards are driving AK Steel Corp., Middletown, Ohio, in a new direction.

• Arcelor Brasil to buy Costa Rica steel reroller Dec 22, 2005

  Arcelor Brasil, the newly formed holding company for steelmaker Arcelor SA's Brazilian and Argentine interests, is making its first acquisition outside Latin America's Southern Cone.