HarbisonWalker plans to construct steel factory

Pittsburgh-based HarbisonWalker International (HWI), the largest supplier of refractory products and services in North America, recently announced it will construct a technologically advanced plant to service American steel customers.

The company is searching for the best site with construction to begin once a location is chosen.

“The new facility, combined with our high-performing ferrous product operations in Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Georgia, and Ontario, will allow us to ramp up capacity dramatically,” Carol Jackson, HWI chairwoman and CEO, said. “As steelmaking capacity increases, we are committed to ensuring that all our customers’ operations — including operations growing in the southern U.S. — will receive the highest quality and value of refractory products and services.”

The plant will produce magnesia-carbon brick for servicing steel ladles and will support sustainability goals by producing refractories designed for use in low-emission electric arc furnaces. It will use robotics automation and will utilize lean techniques to maximize material flow efficiency and production.

It will open during the third quarter of 2022 at the earliest, and production will add to HWI’s capacity. Capacity may potentially increase by 2023

The company has completed numerous capital investments at its facilities since 2018 that optimize production and capacity, and product quality.