BUSINESS BRIEF

Republic Steel predicts 
hundreds of new hires

9/23/2013

LORAIN, Ohio — The activation of an $85 million electric arc furnace at a northern Ohio steel plant is expected to add hundreds of jobs there over the next year.

Republic Steel’s marketing director says more than 100 workers have been added at its plant in Lorain. It foresees the number eventually reaching about 450. The official said Republic expects to start the furnace before the end of the year.

The furnace will turn melted scrap into liquid steel that will be sold and eventually transformed into solid pipe used in natural gas and oil drilling.

The arc furnance replaces a blast furnace that was closed five years ago as demand for steel products fell during the recession.