Last week, Zekelman Industries, parent company of AISC member Atlas Tube, announced it will build the largest continuous Electric Resistance Welding (ERW) tube mill in the world. The new mill will be located in Blytheville, Ark., adjacent to the existing Atlas Tube mill. Startup of the new mill is scheduled for September 2021.
"Having two mills within close proximity of each other will only increase our organization's efficiency," said Barry Zekelman, executive chairman and CEO of Zekelman Industries. "We look forward to starting construction of this groundbreaking facility."
When the $150 million mill project is complete, the company projects an additional 75 new employees will be hired. The mill will produce hollow structural sections (HSS) in square, rectangular and round shapes and in sizes ranging from 8-in. square by 0.75-in. wall to 22-in. square by 1-in. wall. The largest rectangular section produced at the facility will be 30-in. by 14-in. by 1-in. wall, and the largest round section will be 28-in. OD by 1-in. wall.
The new facility will be Atlas Tube's fifth mill in the United States, all of which produce HSS.
Read the full press release from Zekelman Industries here.