California Steel Industries Inc. (CSI) announced plans for a new pipe mill on the company’s site near Fontana, Calif. Cost of the state-of-the art equipment, including installation, is expected to exceed $100 million. The mill will produce high-strength electrical resistance welded (ERW) pipe up to 24 inches in diameter and up to 80 feet in length. CSI’s existing pipe mill is limited to 16 inch diameter and 60 foot lengths. Using induction welding technology, the new mill will be capable of increased wall thicknesses and improved yields.                

Annual production capacity is expected to be approximately 400,000 net tons, bringing CSI’s total tubular product capacity to over 600,000 tons. Installation of the new mill equipment is expected to begin in the third quarter of 2012 and be concluded by the end of 2014. The new pipe mill is expected to generate approximately 100 new production and logistics jobs.