Supply Chain

• LIM names Cooper president and chief operating officer Nov 18, 2011

  Rod Cooper has been appointed president and chief operating officer of Labrador Iron Mines Holdings Ltd. (LIM) effective Dec. 1.

• Crane incidents land Ohio service center $157,200 fine Nov 18, 2011

  Legend Tube & Metal Sales Inc. has been cited for 21 safety and health violations for allegedly operating unsafe cranes that struck and injured two workers at the steel service center in May.

• Alcoa signs tech deal with Brazilian aircraft producer Nov 18, 2011

  Alcoa Inc. has signed an agreement with Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer SA to develop technology for that company’s aircraft fleet.

• GOP plans energy, infrastructure legislation Nov 17, 2011

  Several Republican lawmakers in the House of Representatives announced Thursday that they plan to offer new legislation to expand America’s energy production and infrastructure projects.

• Aluminum service centers continue to destock Nov 17, 2011

  Market sources believe that U.S. service centers will continue to destock aluminum next year, particularly if the price of aluminum remains low or decreases.

• Lawmakers worry EPA may delay pipeline projects Nov 16, 2011

  The United States must investigate the effects of hydraulic fracturing in the nation’s shale beds on the environment, but without allowing a regulatory body to delay projects, according to lawmakers.

• Oct. steel shipments fall for 2d month in row Nov 16, 2011

  Steel shipments by North American distributors fell for the second straight month in October as U.S. service centers logged a pullback in daily volumes, according to the latest data from the Metals Service Center Institute (MSCI).

• Samuel buying flat-roll steel distributor Doral Nov 16, 2011

  Canadian metals manufacturer and distributor Samuel, Son & Co. Ltd. has agreed to acquire flat-rolled processor Doral Steel Inc.

• China Armco net loss surges as shipments dive Nov 16, 2011

  A steep decline in ferrous scrap and iron ore shipments led China Armco Metals Inc. to more than double its net loss during the third quarter as revenue slid 13.8 percent.

• Chrysler sets $500M Toledo plant upgrade Nov 16, 2011

  Chrysler Group LLC will invest $1.7 billion to support the development and production of the next-generation Jeep sport utility vehicle in 2013, including $500 million to upgrade its Toledo, Ohio, assembly complex.

• Mexico’s GIS to sell engine, foundry operations to Tupy Nov 16, 2011

  Mexico’s Grupo Industrial Saltillo SAB de CV (GIS) has agreed to sell its gray iron engine block and cylinder head foundry business to Brazilian company Tupy SA for $439 million.

• Supermétal lands $29.4M airport expansion contract Nov 16, 2011

  Structural steel construction firm Supermétal Structures Inc. has won a Canadian $30-million ($29.4-million) contract for Calgary International Airport’s East Concourse expansion project in Alberta.

• Magic Steel plans expansion, adds new slitter Nov 16, 2011

  Flat-rolled processor and distributor Magic Steel Sales LLC built a plant at the height of the recession, and two years later is building a 40,000-square-foot warehouse addition at its Decatur, Ala. plant.

• Steel pipe, tube mills have mixed ’12 outlook Nov 15, 2011

  Steel pipe and tube prices have continued to follow a split path, with energy tubulars generally recording gains while non-energy pipe and tube tags continue to suffer.

• Honda to invest $84M, add stamping line at Ala. plant Nov 15, 2011

  Honda Motor Co. Ltd. will invest $84 million in its Honda Manufacturing of Alabama LLC plant, hire 100 new full-time employees and raise its annual production capacity to 340,000 vehicles and engines.

• ArcelorMittal names American iron ore chief Nov 15, 2011

  ArcelorMittal SA has named Steve Wood vice president and head of iron ore operations for the Americas region.

• LIM seeing rebound in iron ore prices; net loss widens Nov 15, 2011

  Iron ore prices are showing signs of recovering after bottoming out in October, according to Labrador Iron Mines Holdings Ltd. (LIM), pegging its selling prices at Canadian $135 ($132) per tonne c.f.r. China in the second week of November.

• XL delay has far-reaching effect: exec Nov 14, 2011

  The delay until 2013 of a decision on whether to approve TransCanada Corp.’s Keystone XL pipeline won’t lead to the market being flooded with excess pipe.

• Olympic Steel sues for breach of contract Nov 14, 2011

  Olympic Steel Inc., a metals toll processor and distributor, is sueing Pan Metal & Processing LLC for alleged breach of contract.

• Ryerson focused on growth amid cuts Nov 14, 2011

  Ryerson Inc. remains poised for growth with additional investments despite laying off 400 people over the past month as part of an ongoing consolidation of sales functions, the metals processor and distributor said.

• Ryerson targets Utah for expansion, opens long products ‘hub’ center in Salt Lake City Nov 14, 2011

  Ryerson Inc. has opened a 54,000-square-foot service center in Salt Lake City.

• N. American markets boost Rusal results Nov 14, 2011

  Strong demand in the North American automotive and commercial transportation sectors contributed to solid third-quarter earnings for Russian aluminum producer United Co. Rusal.

• Canada targets Asia after US delays pipeline Nov 14, 2011

  The Canadian government will send its oil resources to China and other Asian markets, it said just days after the Obama administration delayed a decision on TransCanada Corp.’s Keystone XL pipeline project.

• Caterpillar earmarks $790M for global growth Nov 14, 2011

  Caterpillar Inc. has announced plans to invest $790 million in three expansion projects.