Allegheny Technologies Inc. announced an agreement on Thursday to provide processing services for U.S. mills operated by Russian steelmaker NLMK, a deal that the Pittsburgh specialty metals producer said “significantly increases” production levels at its Brackenridge plant.
Shipments of carbon steel slabs from NLMK USA will begin immediately and will ramp up early next year, ATI said in a statement. NLMK USA operates plants in Mercer County and in Portage, Ind.
The shipments will allow the company to increase production at the Brackenridge hot-rolling and processing facility by about 10 to 15 percent, according to ATI spokeswoman Natalie Gillespie.
Financial details were not disclosed.
The agreement provides ATI with guaranteed revenues and greater utilization of the Brackenridge plant, said Bob Wetherbee, head of the company’s flat rolled products division who is slated to take over as ATI CEO on Jan. 1.
NLMK USA, which supplies flat rolled steel for manufacturing and steel coils to the construction, automotive and heavy equipment industries in the United States, said the deal allows it to offer products at more competitive prices.
“It expands our ability to supply the high-quality materials that U.S. manufacturers need,” said Bob Miller, CEO of NLMK USA. “We were attracted to the (Brackenridge plant’s) capabilities and its close proximity to many of our strategic customers.”
ATI is scheduled to report third-quarter earnings on Oct. 23.
Daniel Moore: dmoore@post-gazette.com, 412-263-2743 and Twitter @PGdanielmoore
First Published: October 19, 2018, 3:03 p.m.