Gerdau’s capital-improvement projects at its special steel producing mill in Monroe, Mich., are making progress. The company completed construction of its new continuous caster in October 2012 and dismantled the old caster in June. Construction of the foundation for the new vacuum degasser began in July, and it is scheduled to start up in March 2014. Gerdau is currently in the process of expanding the production capacity of its rolling mill through the installation of six additional rolling-mill stands and a new walking-beam reheat furnace, which will be completed in the second quarter of 2014.

A project to increase the mill’s straightening and quality inspection capabilities is scheduled for completion in October 2014. The new equipment is part of the facility’s overall $155.6 million investment project that was announced in May 2010. Upon completion by the end of next year, Monroe’s overall capital improvement project will bring the mill’s production capacity to more than 800,000 short tons per year. More than 700 contractors and approximately 200,000 man-hours have been invested in this project over the last year.