July 12, 2006 — Mittal Steel announced it will break ground this Thursday, July 13, for a major expansion of its research and development laboratories in East Chicago, Ind.
The research and development center in East Chicago is an integral part of Mittal Steel USA's material partnership with the most sophisticated manufacturers of cars, trucks, appliances and other products. The facility is also headquarters for research and development at Mittal Steel Co. worldwide, with laboratories operating in France and the Czech Republic as well.
"This multi-million dollar expansion will significantly enhance our Research & Development operations not only in the United States but all over the world, and will further improve our ability to provide advanced engineering solutions to meet the evolving needs of our most demanding customers," said Louis L. Schorsch, President and CEO of Mittal Steel USA.
Gregory Ludkovsky, Vice President of Technology for Mittal Steel USA and Chief Technology Officer for both the U.S. and global companies, hailed the new investment as additional resources for the company's ongoing efforts to help customers improve their products and control their costs.
Thursday begins Phase I of a planned $10-million expansion of the East Chicago research campus. The $4.2-million Phase I will add 22,000 square feet to the laboratories of Building A. This phase will accommodate equipment moved from Bethlehem, Pa., to consolidate the company's research activities after the acquisition of International Steel Group last year. Construction for the expansion is being accelerated, and occupancy is expected within a year of groundbreaking.
The campus also is adding talent — engineers and technicians who transferred from Bethlehem and those being added in an aggressive recruitment process that is attracting top steel scientists from all over the world.
The second phase would add 20,000 square feet to Building B, just east of the construction that begins Thursday.
The building design features exterior panels of SLEEK AZ(R), an innovative architectural steel that originates from Mittal Steel USA's plant in Sparrows Point, Md.
Mittal Steel USA, with its affiliates, is the largest steel producer in North America and the largest integrated steel producer in the United States. It serves a broad U.S. manufacturing base. The company was formed in April 2005 and consists of the former Ispat Inland Inc. and the former International Steel Group. It has operations in 12 states of the United States.
Mittal Steel Co. is the world's largest and most global steel company, with operations in 16 countries, on four continents. Mittal Steel encompasses all aspects of modern steelmaking, to produce a comprehensive portfolio of both flat and long steel products to meet a wide range of customer needs. It serves all the major steel consuming sectors, including automotive, appliance, machinery and construction. For 2005, Mittal Steel had revenues of US $28.1 billion and steel shipments of 49.2 million tons.