American Resources Corp. announced the expansion of its wholly owned subsidiary, American Metals LLC, and the selection of its currently owned Deane Mining facility in Letcher County, Ky., as its initial rail load-out and logistics location for processed metals. American Metals is expanding its current metal-recovery business and will aggregate, process and transport used steel to be recycled and sold to traditional and electric-arc-furnace (EAF) steelmaking facilities. The company will utilize the existing infrastructure at its Deane Mining facility, which has the ability to haul and aggregate metal from a range of locations.

Stupp Corp. awarded SMS group a contract to extend the spiral pipe mill at its facility in Baton Rouge, La. The contract consists of two projects: a partial revamp of the spiral pipe machine to increase pipe production capacity and a new submerged-arc re-welding stand to complement the existing three welding stands. The plant’s modifications, which can increase Stupp’s annual capacity by 40,000 tons (to 60,000 tons) will go into operation by the end of 2020.

Tenova Goodfellow Inc., (TGI) a Canadian subsidiary of Tenova, a Techint Group company specialized in innovative solutions for the metals and mining industries, is joining a collaborative project titled “Digital Transformation of Secondary Metallurgy Facility at ArcelorMittal Dofasco.” The project is focused on ArcelorMittal Dofasco’s secondary metallurgy facility, which includes a ladle furnace, a degassing tank, their auxiliaries and transfer cars. The goal is to demonstrate how digitalization technologies can improve production by minimizing manual intervention, reducing process variation and improving final steel properties.

The Association for Iron and Steel Technology (AIST), after extensive consultation in recent weeks with governing authorities and the AIST Board of Directors and with due regard to the safety and health of members, exhibitors, attendees and staff, cancelled AISTech 2020 – The Iron & Steel Technology Conference and Exposition. The event was scheduled for Aug. 31-Sept. 3 in Cleveland, Ohio.

Super Systems Inc. (SSi) announced the promotion of Jim Oakes from vice president of business development to president. Oakes has been with SSi for 15 years in various roles, but he has always been focused on positioning the company as a leader of sensors, controls and software in the heat-treating industry. Oakes has served the industry not only at SSi but through volunteer work on the board of trustees and as board president for both the Metal Treating Institute (2019-present) and ASM Heat Treating Society (2017-2019). 

Air Liquide signed a long-term agreement with Steel Dynamics Inc. (SDI) to supply gaseous oxygen, nitrogen and argon to SDI’s electric-arc furnace (EAF) steel mill in Sinton, Texas. To support the agreement, Air Liquide plans to invest over $100 million to install an air-separation unit (ASU) on its Gulf Coast pipeline network in Ingleside, Texas, and extend its pipeline network to SDI’s site.

Armil CFS Inc. shipped a hydraulic pusher furnace designed to burn out and preheat investment-casting molds to a Midwest manufacturer of marine propulsion components. The furnace, which includes an automated tray extraction system and return conveyor, is designed to push a 48-inch-wide tray holding investment-casting molds up to 18 inches high. The combustion system is configured to promote clean firing of ceramic molds at temperatures up to 2150°F (1177°C).

After much analysis, feedback from attendees and the uncertainty of COVID-19, the MTI Board of Trustees has approved transition to a virtual format for Furnaces North America 2020. Attendees will be able to experience the virtual exhibit hall for free. For those wanting to view the three live panel discussions and 35 technical sessions, FNA is offering a special for attendees of $199 for each of the first two registrants from a company and $49 for every person after that. To qualify, everyone must register on the same online registration form. 

Germany’s SMS group is investing in the acquisition of shares in two Brazil-based companies, Viridis and Vetta, expanding its market presence in Latin America. Part of the transaction is the merger of these two Brazilian companies to create a competency center for industrial digitalization, with emphasis on efficiency and sustainability technologies. The new business will operate under the name Vetta in conjunction with SMS digital, an SMS group subsidiary specialized in digital solutions.

Tenova LOI Thermprocess, a global company in the field of heat-treatment plants based in Essen, Germany, underwent a change in its management.