Comments on: Steelmaking’s future at Sparrows Point: uncertain

By: Roscolee

Roscolee — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 05:53:52 +0000

why dont u move too china than..nothing holding u back…

By: Roscolee

Roscolee — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 05:49:42 +0000

U dont have to be in union..get out if u dont like

By: Roscolee

Roscolee — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 01:53:52 +0000

why dont u move too china than..nothing holding u back…

By: Roscolee

Roscolee — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 01:49:42 +0000

U dont have to be in union..get out if u dont like

By: Gary G

Gary G — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 17:35:25 +0000

Walter quote:
“The imported slabs are of European and American origin – meaning that they are high quality steel”

Gary G reply:
By definition, imported slabs are not of American origin. Imported from another country.

By: Gary G

Gary G — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 13:35:25 +0000

Walter quote:
“The imported slabs are of European and American origin – meaning that they are high quality steel”

Gary G reply:
By definition, imported slabs are not of American origin. Imported from another country.

By: Drzoy

Drzoy — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 07:17:36 +0000

Mark - The imported slabs are of European and American origin - meaning that they are high quality steel.

Why waste time and money on a badly designed sinter plant and a tired old blast furnace?

The Russian owners have a plan to keep the plant running and making high quality product and turn a profit to keep folks on the payroll.

It is the coils that go out the door that pay the bills - why hang on to the outdated and poorly designed 50 year old sintering plant, BOF, and furnace, when we can make product and profit and save jobs by simply using ready made slabs?

The real "Beasts of the East" are in China and India and can out produce L Furnace hands down and do so at less cost to the company and customer!

By: Yo No Se

Yo No Se — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 00:50:35 +0000

"Mass exodus" of higher management? What higher management, other than Tom Russo (the Plant Manager at the time) who was forced out by the Commies, made a mass exodus?

There are very few "higher management" positions to begin with. The second tier positions under the Plant Manager were the Primary Side Manager and the Finishing Side Manager. Both of these positions were eliminated in March or so. I believe the Finishing Manager took the Management Employee Separation Program (20 weeks of full pay) and retired.

The reason why the Sinter Plant was shut down was because the price of iron ore fines had jumped in price compared to ore pellets. Because of this, Sinter became an expensive source of iron units.

Combine the effects of no sinter, using "garbage" ore pellets from a variety of sources (including digging up old pellets), few technical people left that understand blast furnace burdens, band-aid maintenance, numerous tuyure leaks, brutally cold winter weather, and 2 major snow storms, and the Blast Furnace had major operating delays in Feb.

The old saying: "You reap what you sow" can be seen at Sparrows.

By: Yo No Se

Yo No Se — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 20:50:35 +0000

By: Alice

Alice — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 05:00:23 +0000

Amen, brother! The reputation of the United Steel Workers' Union is becoming a strong disappointment to the steelworkers of Severstal. It's been almost 4 years, and still no contract. These guys are so busy with their negotiations, that none of them actually work in the Mill! What is the faith of our industry, when our union won't stand up for their dues paying members. It is really a sad state of affairs, for us to have to endure such anticipation of our future at Sparrows Point. The union needs to have a little more grit, like in the older days. Hell, take off the pansy white gloves, and get down with the real business of work for the future of all of we steelworkers.