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AK Steel recognized for best operational improvements

AK Steel has received an award for Best Operational Improvements from American Metal Market (AMM), a metal industry publication. The award recognizes the company for making more than $180 million in capital investments at its steel plants in Butler, Pa., and Zanesville, Ohio. These investments include a new electric arc furnace, ladle metallurgy furnace, and additional electrical steel finishing equipment, intended to help the company lower production costs, enhance product quality, increase steelmaking capacity, and improve the company's self-sufficiency.

"It is an honor to receive this outstanding recognition from American Metal Market," said James L. Wainscott, chairman, president and CEO of AK Steel. "The award reflects our ongoing efforts to continuously improve our products, processes, and overall competitiveness."

At Butler Works, AK Steel replaced three 1960s-vintage electric arc furnaces with a single furnace capable of melting 1.4 million tons of steel annually, about 40 percent more than the previous three-furnace operation. In addition, the company reports that the plant now utilizes the most energy-efficient electric arc furnace technology available. The first heat of steel from the new furnace was tapped on March 4, 2011.

AK Steel manufactures carbon, stainless and electrical steels at Butler Works.

AK Steel also was a finalist for AMM's 2011 award for Environmental Stewardship. In 2010 the company received AMM awards for Steel Producer of the Year and Best Turnaround of the Decade.