Gibraltar Metals, Kenmore, N.Y., signed a contract with Rad-Con Inc., Cleveland, Ohio, to supply two hydrogen-annealing bases. This addition brings the total number of hydrogen annealing bases at Gibraltar to six. The bases and associated furnaces process cold-rolled, high-carbon strip steel used for the automotive and shipping industries. Also included with this equipment is an annealing thermal modeling and scheduling optimization system from Entec Systems International Inc., Valparaiso, Ind. The model increases throughput and consistency by providing an online profile of each coil being annealed and adjusting the process according to metallurgical requirements. The Entec system will be extended to the three remaining nitrogen annealing bases as well. All equipment is expected to be fully operational by the first quarter of 2002.