Mittal Steel USA has announced the idling of two of its blast furnaces for an indefinite period of time to bring production capabilities in line with reduced demand for light flat-rolled products.
The furnaces, one in the east and one in the west, are in Indiana Harbor, East Chicago, Ind. and Cleveland, Ohio. No employees will be laid off while the furnaces are off line.
Required maintenance will be done while the furnaces are out of operation.
Production levels will be resumed and the furnaces will be reactivated when market demand rises again.
"We are confident that we can maintain and service our customers' requirements working under this production configuration and are committed to maintaining our customers' business," said Michael G. Rippey, president and chief executive officer.