Certification will boost steel business
ArcelorMittal, with plants in Coatesville and Conshohocken, says being DNV-GL certified will open some markets
ArcelorMittal announced its plate steel mills in Coatesville, Conshohocken and Burns Harbor, Indiana, will have more business opportunities as the result of receiving a new certification.
Each mill has received DNVGL certification that will open market opportunities domestically and internationally for their plate steel in industries such as shipbuilding and energy, the company said.
“As the largest, full-line plate producer in the United States, we recognize the importance of expanding our portfolio of certifications to include DNV-GL,” said John Battisti, chief operating officer of ArcelorMittal USA Plate. “DNV-GL is well-respected internationally. We trust this additional certification in our quality standards will serve us well in the future and help broaden our plate presence in various domestic and global industries.”
DNV-GL (Germanischer Lloyd) is a classification society that sets rules and standards for industries, especially maritime-related markets. It establishes best practices by means of quality codes, standards and documentation. The criteria ensure manufacturing compliance and allow conditions whereby warranties and in-
surance criteria are met.
An ArcelorMittal spokeswoman stopped short of saying the new certification will mean additional hiring at the plants.
“Securing the DNV-GL certification has resulted in more business and opportunities for our plate mills,” said Mary Beth Holdford, division manager of external communications for ArecelorMittal. “While the certification does not directly translate into more jobs, it does support the sustainability of our current workforce.”
ArcelorMittal USA Plate produces a variety of American-made steel plate products including: high-strength, low-alloy, or HSLA; commercial and military alloy; clad and flame-cut products; and coiled and discrete plate. Those steels are used in a number of markets, including construction, distribution, energy, heavy equipment and shipbuilding.
“We anticipate this additional certification will grant us entry into various industries and international applications which we previously were unable to secure. It should also open the door to more export, shipbuilding and energy-related requests for quotation, including wind tower and offshore oil platforms,” said Matt Habenicht, sales manager, ArcelorMittal USA Plate.
The qualification process includes multiple audits of manufacturing practices, including SOP and ISO manuals, plus charting of equipment used to roll and process plate. There were also tours of the manufacturing process from steelmaking through shipping and inspection of specific grades and sizes of steel plate, each of which must be produced in the as-rolled, control-finished and heat-treated condition. Sample pieces were sent to both ArcelorMittal Global Research and Development and outside labs, where welding and mechanical testing were performed on the material.
“The qualification process is one of the most rigorous and lengthy exercises our plate facilities and labs have had to complete,” said Habenicht, “but it was also important to us and our business. This certification serves as a testament of the commitment of our people and the quality of our products and process.”
ArcelorMittal has 733 employees in Coatesville and 265 in Conshohocken, or around 1,000 employees in their Philadelphia area steel plants, Holdford said. The company is one of the largest employers in northwest Indiana where it has some 10,000 steelworkers. Of those, about 620 work in plate, Holdford said.
ArcelorMittal makes high-strength, low-alloy, commercial-alloy, military-alloy and flame-cut plates, as well as coiled and discrete plate, that are used in the construction, distribution, energy, heavy equipment and shipbuilding industries.