Gerdau to make $50 million investment at Minnesota mill

Long steel producer Gerdau has announced plans to invest $50 million to replace the continuous caster at its St. Paul, Minn., mill. The investment will increase special bar quality capacity by 100,000 short tons and increase the mill's total capacity to 550,000 short tons.

The new caster will improve quality levels and add aluminum grain refined capabilities that are limited by the current casting equipment and practices, the company reports. Project completion is expected by early 2014.