Supply Chain

• AMM steel awards finalists announced Apr 24, 2013

  Finalists drawn from the largest, most competitive pool of applicants ever nominated have been announced for AMM’s annual Awards for Steel Excellence.

• Mississippi River nears crest, but more rain is seen ahead Apr 23, 2013

  The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ daily river gauge report showed the Mississippi River reaching 34.8 feet at St. Louis on April 23, nearly 5 feet above flood stage, with forecasts calling for the river to reach 35.5 feet April 24 before falling again.

• Flooding still hinders scrap shipments Apr 23, 2013

  The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has scheduled the reopening of locks and dams on the upper Mississippi River, but floodwaters were still cresting April 23 and were expected to continue to do so at points along the Illinois and Mississippi rivers over the next several days.

• Caterpillar’s outlook dims on mining investment drop-off Apr 23, 2013

  Caterpillar Inc.’s resource industries group saw sales decline in the first quarter as mining investment growth slowed worldwide and North American utilities continued to adopt natural gas as a fuel.

• Triton, SMI team to make fiber-reinforced aluminum Apr 23, 2013

  Triton Systems Inc. and Specialty Materials Inc. are teaming in a collaboration keyed to manufacture fiber-reinforced aluminum (FRA).

• Lund buys Tradesman Truck; additional acquisitions seen Apr 23, 2013

  Lund International Holding Co. has acquired Tradesman Truck Accessories LLC and is mulling additional acquisitions, the company said April 22.

• No near-term relief seen along rivers Apr 22, 2013

  Numerous lock closures and a trio of barge accidents have kept shipping along the Illinois and Mississippi rivers at a standstill as flooding remains a threat to the waterways, with no immediate relief in sight.

• BP puts Mad Dog project expansion on ice Apr 22, 2013

  Oil producer BP Plc is reviewing the expansion of a major oil project in the Gulf of Mexico, calling the investment "not as attractive as previously modeled" thanks to market conditions and inflation, the company said via e-mail.

• Caterpillar's income tumbles 44.5% in first qtr. Apr 22, 2013

  Caterpillar Inc. posted first-quarter net income of $880 million, down 44.5 percent from nearly $1.59 billion in the same period last year on revenue that slid 17.3 percent to $13.21 billion.

• Inergy Midstream halts work on Commonwealth pipeline Apr 22, 2013

  Inergy Midstream LP has suspended development of its Commonwealth pipeline.

• OSHA cites Ball Aerosol for 11 alleged safety violations Apr 22, 2013

  The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Ball Aerosol & Specialty Container Inc. for 11 alleged safety violations at its Hubbard, Ohio, metal container manufacturing facility.

• March construction starts up 8% on public works, utilities Apr 22, 2013

  Public works and utilities led an 8-percent gain in U.S. construction starts in March despite a fallback in housing and other nonresidential building sectors, according to McGraw-Hill Construction.

• Toyota bringing Lexus output to US via $360M outlay in Ky. Apr 22, 2013

  Toyota Motor Corp. will invest $360 million at its Georgetown, Ky., plant in a move that for the first time will allow it to begin assembling the Lexus—its best-selling ES 350 sedan—outside of Japan.

• Flooding, accident force lock closures Apr 19, 2013

  Four locks on the Illinois River and eight locks on the Mississippi River closed April 18 and 19 due to record flooding, with at least two more closures imminent.

• Boeing sets cuts; design shift said eyed Apr 19, 2013

  Boeing Co. will reduce engineering employment this year, it said, as its largest white-collar union claims the company is also actively looking to shift aircraft design work to Russia.

• More copper products mills mull price increase Apr 19, 2013

  A planned price increase by GBC Metals LLC, a division of Olin Brass Inc., for light-gauge, narrow-width and specialty finish products has encouraged other domestic mills to consider implementing a similar hike.

• Alupress plans $19.9M aluminum casting plant Apr 19, 2013

  Alupress AG plans to open a $19.9-million aluminum casting plant in Laurens County, S.C., aimed at servicing automotive clients in the region.

• Dan Keaton named Edgen Murray vice president Apr 19, 2013

  Edgen Group Inc. has named Dan Keaton vice president of its Edgen Murray segment’s Americas business, the company said April 18.

• Chicago flooding creates headaches Apr 18, 2013

  Torrential rains in and around Chicago caused highway closures and headaches for some area metals companies toward the end of this week, although most reported minimal lasting impact.

• TK unit shutting three facilities, opening two Apr 18, 2013

  ThyssenKrupp Materials NA Inc.’s Copper & Brass Sales division will close three of its processing and distribution facilities while opening two new ones as part of its latest cost-cutting initiative.

• Hunter Douglas Metals promotes Murphy Apr 17, 2013

  Hunter Douglas Metals Inc. has promoted Mike Murphy to director of transportation.

• Pipe, tube market still subdued, margins thin Apr 17, 2013

  Sentiment remains subdued in the pipe and tube market, with tepid demand and more-than-adequate stock levels leading to pressure on margins.

• USMX ratifies labor deal with ILA Apr 17, 2013

  Members of the U.S. Maritime Alliance Ltd. (USMX) ratified a new six-year master contract with the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) on April 17.

• More mills expected to stop CRU discounting Apr 17, 2013

  ArcelorMittal USA LLC’s announcement that it will cease selling hot-rolled steel priced off a discount to CRU Group’s index could see strong support from other steelmakers, sources said.