Nucor to build EAF micromill in Florida

Charlotte, North Carolina-based Nucor Corp. has announced it will build a rebar “micro mill” in Frostproof, Florida, in the central part of the state east of Tampa. The company indicates the $240 million electric arc furnace (EAF) facility is the second rebar micromill it is constructing. In November 2017, Nucor announced a rebar micromill project in Sedalia, Missouri.

“Nucor has always focused on growing our business to better serve our customers,” says John Ferriola, chair, CEO and president of Nucor. “We are building this rebar micro mill in a great and growing market where demand is strong and there is currently an abundant supply of scrap, a good portion of which is handled by our scrap business, The David J. Joseph Co. (DJJ).”

He continues, “Consistent with our planned strategy of being a low-cost producer, this micro mill will give us a cost advantage over our competitors who are shipping rebar into the region from long distances.”

The EAF rebar mill will have an estimated annual capacity of 350,000 tons, and construction is expected to take two years, pending permit and regulatory approvals. The site is expected to employ approximately 250 people and pay an average annual salary of $66,000, Nucor says.

“We would like to thank the many state and local officials, leaders and partners who have assisted us with the project,” says Dave Sumoski, executive vice president of merchant and rebar products with Nucor. “Identifying the right location is an essential part of our rebar micro mill strategy, and this part of central Florida met all the criteria we evaluate. We look forward to becoming a member of the community.”

Steelmaker Nucor and its affiliates have operating facilities primarily in the United States and Canada, producing carbon and alloy steel (in bars, beams, sheet and plate) and several other steel shapes and products. The company’s DJJ business unit processes ferrous and nonferrous scrap, brokers ferrous and nonferrous metals, pig iron, hot briquetted iron (HBI) and direct reduced iron (DRI) and supplies ferroalloys. Nucor refers to itself as North America's largest recycler.