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AISI Test Procedures for Cold-Formed Steel Approved as the American National Standards

AISI's Committee on Specifications developed 12 test procedures for cold-formed steel members, connections and assemblies that were approved as the American National Standards by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). These test procedures are widely used by the construction industry and research institutes for determining material strength, developing new products, and verifying design provisions.

"These test procedures provide an alternative for designing cold-formed steel members and structures and are effective tools for research and development. They will be a valuable resource for the cold-formed steel industry," said Delbert F. Boring, AISI vice president, construction market. AISI is recognized internationally by the steel and construction industries for developing world-class design standards for cold-formed steel structural applications, he said.

Among the 12 test procedures, four are newly developed-test methods for determining the web crippling strength of cold-formed steel beams; distortional buckling of cold-formed steel hat-shaped columns; flexural testing of cold-formed steel hat-shaped beams; and determining strength value for a roof panel-to-purlin-to-anchorage device connection. The other eight test procedures were published previously in the AISI Cold-Formed Steel Design Manual, 2002 Edition.

The test procedures are available for purchase on AISI's Web site in the Shop AISI section of www.steel.org. For more information, contact Helen Chen.

Don Pether Honored with AISI Industry Leadership Award

Don Pether, former president and chief executive officer of Dofasco Inc., was honored with an Industry Leadership Award at the AISI Policy and Planning Committee meeting on July 19, in Toronto, Ontario. Pether was recognized for his leadership on the AISI Board of Directors as vice chairman and for his service as chairman of Policy and Planning Committee and the Market Development Committee. AISI Chairman Lou Schorsch, Mittal Steel USA, and AISI President and CEO Andrew G. Sharkey, III, presented Don Pether with a special AISI Industry Leadership Medal, inscribed with: "In recognition of your outstanding contributions to the North American steel industry and the American Iron and Steel Institute."

Don Pether, who retired from Dofasco on July 21, became non-executive chairman of Dofasco's Board of Directors. He joined Dofasco Inc. in 1970 and moved through various positions there until he was appointed president and chief executive officer in May 2003. Throughout his career, Pether participated on the Board of numerous industry-related associations including AISI, the Canadian Steel Producers' Association, the Canadian Steel Trade and Employment Congress and the International Iron and Steel Institute.

FeMET Initiative's Design Grants Awarded; Two Universities Granted $47,500 Each for Design

AISI and the Association for Iron & Steel Technology Foundation's (AIST Foundation) "Ferrous Metallurgy Education Today," or FeMET Initiative, which is aimed at attracting top talent to the North American steel industry, has awarded its design grants for 2006. Teams of materials science engineering students and their professors from Carnegie Mellon University and University of Missouri-Rolla have been granted $47,500 each to put toward their efforts in addressing an industry technological problem or "challenge" by working collaboratively to determine how the problem is best solved. Their proposals included exposure to important problems in the steel industry, as well as learning various technical and economic aspects in creating a solution.

The winning proposals from the universities will tackle the 2006-2007 design theme, "Comparative Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Assessments of Steel Products." In response, Carnegie Mellon University will address the problem in the project, "An Environmental Life Cycle Comparison of Steel Versus Wood in Residential and Commercial Construction." The project to be taken up by the team from University of Missouri-Rolla is titled, "Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Emission Comparison of Steel With Other Materials."

"The universities are addressing one of steel's most important attributes—sustainability—and we look forward to seeing the progress the teams and projects make in the coming year," said Andrew G. Sharkey, III, president and CEO of AISI. "The Design Grant Program, a part of FeMET, will expose metallurgy and materials science students and professors to real-life issues and enable them to acquire better knowledge of the North American steel industry."

According to Ronald E. Ashburn, AIST Foundation executive director, "Not only will this segment of the FeMET Initiative bring a practical, working knowledge in ferrous metallurgy to these students, but it will also bring the industry insight into how steel competes with other materials with respect to environmental sustainability."

AISI President Joins Steel Caucus Chairman in Radio Spot

AISI's Andy Sharkey joins House Steel Caucus Chairman Rep. Phil English (R-PA) this month in a radio news spot being distributed nationally that urges Congress to strengthen America's trade laws and keep U.S. manufacturing jobs here in America.

Rep. English introduced HR 5529 this year, "The Trade Law Reform Act of 2006," to strengthen domestic trade laws and level the playing field for American manufacturers competing against foreign unfair and predatory trade practices.

"My initiative is a comprehensive proposal that will serve America's interests and keep American jobs at home," Rep. English says in the news spot. "We can no longer tolerate unfair trade at the expense of our workers."

"Congressman English's bill paves the way for strengthened trade laws, a reduction in currency manipulation abuses by our trading partners, and will also help keep manufacturing jobs here in the United States where they belong," Andy Sharkey comments.

The spot will air beginning Thursday, August 3, on Radio America Network's 750 stations nationwide.

AISI Builds Coalition for "Build Back Better" Federal Flood Program

The Gulf Coast Steel Initiative (GCSI) continues to make headway in helping with rebuilding efforts in the U.S. Gulf region in the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita. As we near the one-year anniversary of Katrina, the lessons that we are still learning are prominent. "'Building back better and stronger' is something we, along with many others, believe in, and is something the 11 supporting companies of GCSI feel they can collectively impact," said David Jeanes, senior vice president, AISI, who is primarily responsible for GCSI's business plan.

"We are working to ensure better building criteria in the Gulf Coast region," Jeanes said. AISI's Public Policy team and the Steel Framing Alliance, supporting organizations of GCSI, advanced an amendment for a House and Senate bill that would update the national flood insurance program to include the use of high-performance construction materials. The amendment states that: "To the extent practicable, federal funds should be utilized for residential buildings that comply with nationally recognized codes and standards, and for which mechanisms are in place for state-based enforcement. In addition, construction methods utilized should improve construction efficiencies and help ensure affordability."

"This amendment is significant because our industry was able to build support for it with other building materials industries," said Chip Foley, director of market development, public policy. AISI, the American Forest and Paper Association (AFPA), the Portland Cement Association (PCA) and the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA) are meeting with U.S. Senate and House staff to secure support for the amendment. If passed, this legislation would significantly impact future rebuilding efforts in the Gulf Coast region that utilize federal funding.

Other Gulf Coast Steel Initiative activities:

• Steel Framing: The Steel Framing Alliance (SFA) is establishing Builder Partnerships among selected builders who are dedicated to rebuilding the Gulf Coast area with steel. The SFA is working with contacts at Gulf Coast area vocational schools/community colleges to establish a steel-framing curriculum in order to produce a workforce that can be directly employed by the companies that are part of the builder partnership. A similar curriculum to teach steel roofing techniques is being developed by the Metal Roofing Alliance.
  
  
• Insurance Companies: The business case for improved performance by residential steel framing and roofing has been developed and presented to State Farm Insurance, the largest insurer in the region, and to Allstate Insurance. The insurance industry has demonstrated an interest in learning more about the performance of steel that will provide the basis for reducing the insurance rate on cold-formed steel-framed homes. The SFA is also providing information on residential steel framing for the insurance industry's Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) Builders Guide.

• Building Codes/Standards: Since the hurricanes, Louisiana has passed a law establishing a mandatory state code based on the International Building Code/International Residential Code, which includes criteria established after Hurricane Andrew in 1992 and is supported by AISI. Implementation and enforcement will need to be established. Mississippi is now considering mandatory codes in the coastal counties only.

  The Prescriptive Method is currently being revised to include information that increases steel framing requirements for wind loads from 125 mph to 150 mph. It is expected that the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) balloting for this standard will be completed in August, with the final standard to be released in September.

• Environmental/Recycling Support: The Steel Recycling Institute (SRI) continues to be involved in discussions with heads of state and local Departments of Environmental Quality (DEQs) on the cleanup effort in the Gulf Coast region. SRI was represented at Restoration 2006, a forum in New Orleans for business leaders interested in rebuilding the Gulf Coast region. SRI is also in discussions with representatives from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to have EPA assume responsibility for maintaining SRI's nationwide recycling database. The database provides information for businesses and consumers on where to bring all recyclable materials. SRI is seeking additional funding from Congress to support that effort.
  
  
• Communications: Media representatives continue to respond with interest to the industry's efforts in this region, with articles appearing in Purchasing Magazine, American Metal Market, and the Times-Picayune, among others. A media/informational kit is already in use for insurance industry meetings and briefings with the local media. In addition, the Communications Team is gearing up to produce a consumer-oriented special event to showcase the benefits of steel framing and roofing and those builders offering steel solutions. Such events could include the construction of a steel-built "Katrina Cottage," demonstrating Gulf Coast region models framed and roofed with steel.

The supporting companies of GCSI are AK Steel Corporation, California Steel Industries, Inc., Dofasco Inc., IMSA ACERO, S.A. de C.V., IPSCO Inc., Mittal Steel USA, Nucor Corporation, Shenango Incorporated, Steel Dynamics, Inc., United States Steel Corporation, USS-POSCO Industries and Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Corporation. For more information, contact Debbie Bennett or Elizabeth Vago.

AISI Helps Bring About Passage of Much-Needed Congressional Energy Development Legislation

On August 1, the U.S. Senate approved the "Natural Gas Exploration Bill" (S. 3711) following a solid 71-25 vote. This comes on the heels of a late-June passage by the U.S. House of Representatives of the "Deep Ocean Energy Resources (DOER) Act," which received a convincing vote of 232-187. Passage of these bills would not have been possible without the hard work and grassroots efforts of the manufacturing industry. In addition to substantial Congressional outreach, AISI also issued several statements of support for the bills, as well as several "Legislative Action Alerts" encouraging member company advocacy.

Although S. 3711 has a much narrower focus than the comprehensive DOER Act legislation passed by the House, its approval is considered a major success for domestic manufacturing and steel producers in particular. This bill will provide the current four Gulf Coast energy-producing states, Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi and Alabama, with 37.5 percent of revenues from leasing in the new areas. Beginning in 2017, they will also get 37.5 percent of revenues from leases entered into after enactment of the bill in areas of the gulf where leasing is already authorized. S. 3711 also directs 12.5 percent of federal revenues to the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

Other noteworthy details include the Florida Senate delegations success in securing a ban on leasing east of the military mission line until 2022 and a 125-mile buffer from Gulf of Mexico drilling for other parts of the Florida coast until mid-2022.

With both bills having been approved by their respective Congressional bodies, conference negotiations will now take place to hammer out the disparities between the two. This conference process is expected to begin shortly after Labor Day and could be quite complex.

To view the press release applauding passage of the DOER Act click here.

To view AISI's letter of support for S. 3711 please visit the National Journal Policy Council Web site.

To view the "Action Alert" encouraging passage of S. 3711 please visit the Legislative Action Center.

The Capitol Line

AISI Promotes "Trade Law Reform Act" Through Congressional Outreach Efforts and Targeted Radio Spots

In July, AISI intensified its outreach efforts and support for legislation introduced by Congressional Steel Caucus Chairman Rep. Phil English (R-Pa.), aimed at comprehensively reforming and strengthening U.S. trade laws and providing more effective remedies for U.S. manufacturing and its workers. Among its many provisions, the "Trade Law Reform Act of 2006," or H.R. 5529: amends the antidumping (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) laws, makes the Steel Import Monitoring and Analysis Program permanent and sends the message to U.S. negotiators that U.S. trade laws must not be weakened in the WTO Doha Round Rules.

In addition to AISI's work with Rep. English's office to promote this legislation and encourage co-sponsorship from other house members, the Institute issued a "Letter to the Editor" of American Metal Market in support of the bill and also produced a radio news spot commending the legislation for its defense of domestic trade laws. The radio spot is slated to air nationwide on more than 750 stations throughout August and is currently available online (see related Front Page story).

To view the press release in support of H.R. 5529 click here.

To view AISI's "Letter to the Editor" of AMM click here.

To hear the "Trade Law Reform Act" radio spot please visit the Steelworks homepage. Click on the "Newsmakers Speak Out."

Rep. Tom Udall Keynotes 2nd Annual Climate VISION Workshop

Rep. Tom Udall (D-NM), an active participant in the Congressional global warming debate, and a member of the House Resources Committee, recently took part in AISI's 2nd Annual Climate VISION Workshop in Washington, D.C. The Congressman addressed member company Energy and Environmental Managers regarding general global warming and climate change issues and also took time to discuss H.R. 5049, "The Keep America Competitive Global Warming Policy Act of 2006," which he believes will tackle these concerns in an economically sound, yet environmentally responsible manner.

During his comments, Rep. Udall also challenged steelmakers to maintain the industry's exceptional environmental track record and continue striving for greenhouse gas emissions improvements.

To view the press release announcing Rep. Udall's participation please click here .

Check Out AISI's Public Policy Efforts on the Web

AISI's Public Policy Homepage

AISI's Legislative Action Center

National Journal's Policy Council - AISI Micro-Site Homepage

For more information on these websites, please contact Matt Davison.

AREA	AISI	STAFF PHONE	E-MAIL
Trade & Economic Policy	Barry Solarz	202.452.7139	bsolarz@steel.org
Energy & Environment	Jim Schultz	202.452.7180	jschultz@steel.org
Recycling & Market Development	Chip Foley	202.452.7177	wjfoley@worldnet.att.net
Government Relations	Jennifer Diggins Matthew Davison	202.452.7214 202.452.7133	jdiggins@steel.org mdavison@steel.org

More Stories

AISI Board of Directors' Committees Meet in Toronto—Canadian Government Officials Deliver Remarks During Dinner

The AISI Policy and Planning and Finance Committees met on July 19-20 in Toronto to focus on specific Institute policy and finance issues and to hear progress reports on the Market Development five-year business plan and "The New Steel" campaign.

Canadian government representatives Carole Swan, senior associate deputy minister of industry, and John Gero, assistant deputy minister, foreign affairs and international trade, provided remarks to the attendees during dinner on July 19.

The Policy and Planning Committee reviewed trade and manufacturing issues ranging from a discussion on the North American Steel Trade Committee (NASTC) Meeting held in May, Security and Prosperity and Partnership (SPP), North American Competitiveness Council (NACC), OECD steel meetings in May, WTO rules negotiation/trade law defense, China trade policy and U.S. trade legislation. They also discussed energy/environment issues including mercury switch negotiation, the Asia Pacific Partnership and energy/climate legislation (see top story on the passage of HR4791 and S2253). Market Development provided a 2006 Progress Report to the Committee on the Automotive, Construction, Container, Recycling and Gulf Coast Steel Initiative programs.

News Articles Expand Reach of The New Steel Campaign

The July 31st edition of National Journal, which is one of the magazines in Washington that's considered "required reading" by opinion leaders, is the latest publication to feature an article about AISI's The New Steel campaign.

"This is a campaign to address a knowledge gap," Andy Sharkey explains in "Steel's New Story." "This is an industry that is competitive, essential to this country and environmentally benign." As he tells readers, The New Steel campaign is targeting policymakers with messages about the industry's transformation into a competitive, high-tech and environmentally-friendly sector.

Other high-profile media to publish articles about the campaign include The Wall Street Journal ("U.S. Steelmakers Polish Their Image," May 25) and The New York Times ("Steel Sheds Its Smokestack Image," June 27).

The campaign coverage is serving to further emphasize to opinion leaders the key messages that our industry wants to convey," Sharkey points out, "while adding credibility to the story. These are top notch reporters whose fact-finding for their stories is supporting the positive impact of the industry's revitalization. The articles echo the theme that the steel industry is vital to America's economic and national security and that steel is the most recycled material on the planet."

Sustainable Steel Design Solutions Presented at NSF Symposium

AISI Vice President of Automotive Applications Ron Krupitzer presented an integrated approach to process and product development in the steel industry to participants at a one-day symposium at the National Science Foundation (NSF) on June 27, 2006. The symposium was held to recognize the success of integrated approaches to environmentally benign design and manufacturing. Speakers also addressed the research and development and policy frameworks that lead to transfer and adoption of new technologies and/or management strategies.

Symposium participants included representatives from industry, the National Science Foundation, other government agencies, Congress and university faculty. The symposium presented the opportunity for the steel industry to discuss best practices, limitations, roadblocks and areas for future work in environmentally benign design and manufacturing. For more information, contact Ron Krupitzer.

M&T Pursues Alternative Ironmaking with State of Pennsylvania

Manufacturing and Technology's (M&T) efforts to develop an alternative ironmaking process took a positive step forward recently. M&T, with AISI members companies and suppliers, met with environmental and community development groups in the State of Pennsylvania soliciting their co-investment in a 45,000 ton per year alternate ironmaking plant in western Pennsylvania called the "Pennsylvania Ironmaking Project."

Developed in conjunction with the Department of Energy (DOE) and McMaster University, the Paired Straight Hearth Furnace (PSH) reduces cold bound iron ore/coal pellets in a radically improved hearth that has two to three times the throughput of other hearth processes. It produces a metallized pellet for hot charging into the EAF, or into a smelter vessel such as that developed by AISI member companies under the "Direct Steelmaking Program," greatly increasing production capacity to greater than one million tons per year. A second project to use the PSH furnace and the smelter in combination should follow this demonstration. The process is suitable for recycling plant wastes and iron ore. For further information on this project contact Lawrence Kavanagh.

Life Cycle Indicators Project Underway

AISI's Manufacturing and Technology (M&T) is working with the Steel Recycling Institute (SRI) and International Iron and Steel Institute (IISI) to perform the third round of the international Life Cycle Indicators (LCI) data collection program. The program will develop LCIs for 21 products including cold rolled steel, galvanized sheet, and rod and bar products. LCIs are increasingly demanded by the steel industry's customers, e.g. autos and containers, so that they can do Life Cycle Analyses (LCA) of their products. Many municipalities and the Federal government are demanding LCAs for all new construction. Participating companies benefit from the program because they receive a detailed record of the inputs and emissions from each of their processes within a plant. These are valuable for discussions with environmental authorities and the community, and in benchmarking operations and performing what-if analyses for operational changes and plant modifications.

M&T met in July for two days in the offices of two of its member companies to kick-off their LCI data collection efforts. Thus far, six plants are enrolled. AISI will begin working with its other participating members during the next six weeks. For further information or to enroll in the LCI rogram contact Bill Obenchain.

AISI Co-Sponsors 15th National ASCE / AISC Student Steel Bridge Competition

"These student teams are top quality, and they take the competition very seriously," said Delbert F. Boring, AISI vice president, construction market. "Overwhelmingly, the feedback we get from participants is that this is a worthwhile program that teaches them real-world management, leadership and team-building skills. It's encouraging to see the depth of talent emerging from the universities, and bodes well for the future of steel bridge design." For more information on AISI's Transportation/Infrastructure program, contact Dan Snyder.

CFA Offers Steel Solutions for National Emergency Preparedness Plan

How prepared are you and your family to survive in the event of a national emergency? Most people know that you need basic items like food, water, flashlights, batteries and a radio. But when it comes to knowing just how much food to set aside, the guidelines aren't as clear.

To fill this information gap, the Canned Food Alliance (CFA) is working in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to provide guidelines on how much canned food to buy and store for emergency situations such as natural disasters, blackouts, pandemics and terrorist attacks. CFA is working with its registered dietician partners to develop these guidelines, which will list how much food and what kinds of food to buy for a three-day supply. CFA will also conduct a survey to determine how prepared Americans are for wide-scale emergency situations. The proposed plan will be developed in time for DHS to kick off National Preparedness Month in September.

This cooperation with DHS is leading to other opportunities, including CFA participation in the newly formed "Ready Program," which is developing preparedness ideas for American families and corporate America. This focus on emergency preparedness provides a much-needed civic service and also draws national attention to the safety, convenience and health benefits of canned foods. For more information, contact Rich Tavoletti.

From FeMET, in Second Year, Comes New STEEL Initiative

The programs under the FeMET (Ferrous Metallurgy Education Today) Initiative have entered their second year. The FeMET scholarship committee deliberated in June and awarded ten 2006 scholarships including one scholar from Canada and two from Mexico. The 2005 FeMET scholars have been placed in different steel plants for their summer internships.

Proposals from University of Missouri-Rolla and Carnegie Mellon were selected from FeMET's Design Grant solicitation for the academic year 2006. The theme for the program was "Comparative Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas assessments of Steel Products." See related article in this issue of AISI e-news.

Following the success of the FeMET Initiative, a new scholarship program called the Steel Engineering Education Link (STEEL) Initiative has been launched. This will cover multiple branches of engineering and is similar in format to FeMET. The STEEL Initiative was designed, applications received and scholars selected in a very short period of time. In spite of the time constraint, we have received a number of excellent applications.

All in all, the steel industry, through AISI and AIST's cooperation, has been able to develop a very good interaction between industry and academia.

The History Channel Focuses on Innovative, Nutritious Canned Food

It was lights, camera, action for AISI Container Market Director Rich Tavoletti as he talked about the canning process during a June taping of "American Eats," a new 13-episode series that will air on "The History Channel" this fall. Each "American Eats" show is an hour long and provides information on different food categories. Rich and other members of the Canned Food Alliance (CFA) worked with "The History Channel" producers to prepare an in-depth segment focusing on canned food.

Besides the canning process, the segment will include interviews with Can Manufacturers Institute President Robert Budway on the history of the can and new packaging technologies and innovations, and respected dietician/CFA spokesperson Roberta Duyff on the health and nutritional benefits of canned foods.

"'The canned food episode of 'American Eats' provides a tremendous opportunity for us to educate thousands of consumers on the nutritional benefits of canned food," said Tavoletti. "That's a key objective of the Canned Food Alliance, so when 'The History Channel' contacted us, we were ready to participate."

While Rich doesn't plan to give up his day job yet for a TV career, he does recommend that you watch your local cable listings for the canned food episode of "American Eats."

Steel and Disney-Share Common Environmentality™

Could Goofy assist in teaching future recyclers about the benefits of steel can recycling? Could Donald Duck be educating future consumers about the benefits of buying recycled and steel's recycled content? The Steel Recycling Institute and WWCS Radio Disney are currently working together to explore the possibility of incorporating Disney characters into the SteelCycles Education Program.

SteelCycles is the Steel Recycling Institute's (SRI) educational program for children in grades K-12. This program provides educators and community leaders with stimulating educational tools to teach young people about sensible solid waste management. The Walt Disney Company's Environmentality™, program initiates proactive efforts that extend beyond compliance with environmental laws and regulations directing the course of Environmentality™.

Currently SRI and Radio Disney are looking at possibilities of incorporating Disney's Environmentality™ into elements of the SteelCycles education program, including the appearance of Disney characters in educational curricula and Disney characters recording kid's versions of the SRI's ECO-Quiz. ECO-Quiz was a series of 30-second public service announcements that were read by celebrities for airplay on nationwide radio and in-store broadcast. In similar fashion, this program would feature Disney characters reading recycling messages to be targeted at Radio Disney's 53 markets, children store outlets and other markets targeted at educating children.

Radio Disney and the SRI will meet again in October to further shape the potential concept. For questions or comments, contact Jim Woods, 412-922-2772 x215.

AISI Sponsors ASM International Materials Camp for Teachers

AISI's Automotive Applications Committee (AAC) sponsored the American Society for Metals (ASM) International Materials Camp at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor on June 24-29, 2006. The camp is a week-long event held at various sites across the nation. High school teachers are trained in materials science, including a good section on steel. The teachers work hands-on with metals, ceramics, polymers and composites, with an emphasis on the history and mechanical properties of metals, effects of heat treating, manufacturing processes, and types of alloys.

The Steel Recycling Institute (SRI) provided Cycles for Science curriculum supplements in the areas of chemistry, biology and physics. The workshop is designed to provide the teachers with a greater appreciation for the importance of these materials to modern life and to prepare them to make instructional changes that will motivate their students to learn science concepts. The sponsorship is part of AISI's overall strategy to increase interest in materials science at the high school and college levels in order to provide a steel industry workforce for the future. For more information, contact Ron Krupitzer.

On the Manufacturing Committees' Front

After a break of almost two months during summer, the activities of Manufacturing Committees will be picking up in September. The activities include roundtable discussions, benchmarking surveys and plant tours. The Fall-Winter Schedule is as follows:

The Committee on Sheet Mill Practice has scheduled a three-day meeting that includes tours of plants of Mittal Steel and U. S. Steel in the Indiana area. Another highlight of this meeting is the participation of members from VDEh from German plants. The group will exchange information on operating issues and quality topics and work on benchmarking. Based on the feedback, the meetings are planned to be held alternately in North America and Europe.

AISI's Manufacturing Committees continue their international benchmarking activities. Ironmaking has completed its exchange of operating data with the European Union and is planning a tour of European Ironmaking operations next June. They will host their European counterparts in 2008.

The AISI extends Congratulations to Thad Solomon (Nucor-Berkeley) on his appointment to run Nucor's new plant. Thad was the AISI Hot Strip Mills Committee Chair and had this to say about his experience - "As I have said many times, this committee is by far the best industry group I have ever been a part of in any way. I know that the group will continue to grow and will continue to be a key part of every member's success. I have learned a lot at the meetings that have helped me and the HM operation at Nucor-Berkeley."