MS: SDI to Invest $200M, Hire 45 at Columbus Flat Roll Facility

Steel Dynamics, Inc. announced plans to expand its offering of value-added flat roll steel products through the addition of a new galvanizing line in Columbus, Mississippi. The company plans to invest more than $200 million and create 45 new jobs over three years, adding a third galvanizing line at its Columbus Flat Roll Division.

“Since our acquisition of Columbus in late 2014, the team has done a tremendous job transforming the through-cycle earnings capability of this facility. This wave of investment is the next step in our vision,” said Mark D. Millett, president and chief executive officer. “We are appreciative and impressed by the continued support we have received from the state and local organizations of Mississippi. We are grateful to Governor Phil Bryant for taking a personal interest in our project. For their generous support, we also thank Executive Director Glenn McCullough and the staff of the Mississippi Development Authority, the Lowndes County Board of Supervisors and the Lowndes County Industrial Development Authority, Appalachian Regional Commission and the Tennessee Valley Authority."

The Mississippi Development Authority is providing assistance for public rail construction and concrete
paving. Lowndes County is providing assistance for rail construction and sanitary sewer improvements.
The new galvanizing line will have an annual coating capability of 400,000 tons, producing gauges between 0.013 inches and 0.16 inches, and widths between 36 inches and 72 inches. Construction is planned to take place during the next 24 months, with operations expected to begin mid-year 2020. SDI currently employs 740 workers in Columbus.

“Steel Dynamics’ continued investment in its Columbus operations plays an important role in strengthening the local community and providing hundreds of good-paying jobs to the people of Lowndes County. This latest expansion illustrates the Golden Triangle region is a strong manufacturing hub with a skilled workforce, which provides companies with ample opportunities for growth,” Gov. Phil
Bryant said.

Steel Dynamics is one of the largest domestic steel producers and metals recyclers in the United States based on estimated annual steelmaking and metals recycling capability, with facilities located throughout the United States and in Mexico. Steel Dynamics produces steel products, including hot roll, cold roll and coated sheet steel, structural steel beams and shapes, rail, engineered special bar quality steel, cold finished steel, merchant bar products, specialty steel sections and steel joists and
deck.

“We can’t say enough about how grateful we are for SDI’s commitment to the Golden Triangle. This mill came to Lowndes County in 2005 and it has been the gift that keeps on giving,” said Harry Sanders, president of the Lowndes County Board of Supervisors. “We look forward to supporting SDI in this investment and hopefully many more to come.”

The new galvanizing line will have an annual coating capability of 400,000 tons. In 2017, SDI added a paint line and Galvalume® capabilities at the plant, a $100 million investment which created more than 40 jobs.