[2001 ZTS]

That Nanticoke plant isn't one of my customers so I don't know as much about what is going on there as say Dofasco which is one of ours. What I do know that whatever may have been the case in 2008 is ancient history, that is how much and how quick things have changed.

In the news today:

U.S. Steel consolidations continue

3/8 - U.S. Steel is consolidating all of its steelmaking at plants in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Fairfield, Alabama; and Gary, Indiana.

U.S. Steel will continue to concentrate production at its Mon Valley Works outside of Pittsburgh; Gary Works in Gary, Ind.; and Fairfield Works near Birmingham, Ala., the company said.

Its recent decision to shut down Lake Erie Works, in Nanticoke, Ont., a plant widely viewed as one of the most efficient in North America, surprised many in the industry.

"It's not just about the efficiency of the plant, it's about the efficiency of the overall system in terms of the transporting steel in different forms during the process," said U.S. Steel spokesperson Chuck Rice. "In terms of the travel logistics of rail and so on, well these three plants are the most efficient in that way.

Meanwhile, U.S. Steel moved forward last week with plans to shut down Lake Erie Works and also Hamilton Steel, in Hamilton, Ont.

In a memo to employees, the company outlined steps to shutter the Lake Erie blast furnace in Nanticoke by next week. Once the final batches of steel are processed in Nanticoke and Hamilton, those facilities will go down as well, the memo states.

Only the coke ovens in Lake Erie will continue to function.

During the fourth quarter, U.S. Steel cut its work force by 4,200 in North America, where it employs some 27,000 people.