AK Steel recently announced that it will build a new world-class research and innovation center in Middletown, Ohio. The 120,000-square-foot facility will be constructed on a 15-acre site located in the Cincinnati-Dayton growth corridor along Interstate 75. The estimated project cost is $36 million.
The new research and innovation center will replace the company's existing research facility that is located at another site in Middletown. AK Steel's largest steel manufacturing plant is also in Middletown, and the company's corporate headquarters is in nearby West Chester, Ohio.
"Construction of this new research and innovation center underscores AK Steel's strong commitment to the future of steelmaking in America and to our company's continued industry leadership as a technological innovator in the steel business," said James L. Wainscott, chairman, president and CEO of AK Steel. "The new center will be customer-focused, providing advanced technical support to our valued customers, as well as developing new and improved steel products for a number of our markets."
The new facility will be home to the company's approximately 75 researchers, scientists and engineers who will perform cutting-edge research, applications engineering, advanced engineering, product development and customer technical services. The facility will also house pilot lines that simulate the company's steel manufacturing operations, ranging from melting and casting to hot- and cold-rolling to final finishing. The pilot lines will be used for research, enhancing existing products, problem-solving in production and experimentation for new and improved products.
Groundbreaking for the new facility is planned for late spring or early summer of 2015.
AK Steel employs approximately 8,000 men and women at eight steel plants, two coke plants and two tube manufacturing plants across six states: Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
For more information, visit www.aksteel.com.
