Severstal Columbus” continued expansion eventually will allow it to target the automotive industry, said Wilbur Winland, vice president and general manager of Severstal Columbus.
The company launched part of its Phase 2 expansion this week, doubling the steel mill”s capacity and efficiency.
The second phase of production means the creation of about 130 jobs, some 100 of which already have been filled.
“We”ve gotten a lot of the hires on the facility now. We probably will hire an additional 35 people,” said Winland.
Severstal currently employs about 635 people, a workforce that has continued to grow since the plant began operations in 2007.
The plant began qualifying parts for the automotive industry and has met some of those requirements already.
The Phase 2 expansion of the plant will continue through the fall.
“The rest of Phase 2 will be completed in September and October of this year,” said Katya Pruett, a Severstal North America spokesperson.
“This is an exciting time for employees and customers of Severstal North America,” Sergei Kuznetsov, CEO of Severstal North America said in a press release. “The current expansion will enhance our already outstanding reliability, flexibility and cost-efficiency, and will benefit our customers, as well as the local community by creating new jobs.”
Severstal North America”s headquarters is in Dearborn, Mich. The company produces flat-rolled carbon steel products, including hot-rolled, cold-rolled, electro-galvanized and hot-dip galvanized.
Major markets for the products include automotive, appliance, construction, container, converter and service center.
Severstal North America”s parent company is OAO Severstal, Russia”s largest steelmaker by volume.
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