Nucor Corp. on Friday announced that its northeast Arkansas steel plant will install a $75 million Quench and Self-Tempering process, allowing it to produce certain grades of structural steel sections.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson joined Nucor officials for the announcement at the company's Nucor-Yamato Steel mill in Blytheville.

"We are excited that Nucor is making this significant investment here in Arkansas," Hutchinson said in a Nucor news release. "Nucor has been an important part of Arkansas' economy for almost three decades and this investment shows their continued commitment to our state." 

Nucor aims to commission the new process in the second half of next year. It said the process will give the plant the ability to produce ASTM A913 Grade 65 and Grade 70 structural sections "with a high-strength, low-alloy grade chemistry that provides excellent weldability while achieving good toughness at low temperatures." 

"This strategic investment will keep Nucor-Yamato Steel the market leader in the wide-flange beam market servicing our customers across the United States," Nucor CEO John Ferriola said in a news release. "The A913 market is a strategic part of the future of our company and will ensure we continue to meet and exceed our customers' needs and requirements."

A913 material is often used in gravity columns for high-rise buildings, long-span trusses for convention centers and stadiums, and for projects where seismic design is a critical factor.  At the same time, the material helps reduce the overall weight and material cost for the owner, making it even more competitive with concrete and wood, the company said.

The Nucor-Yamato Steel mill is a joint venture between Nucor Corp. and  Yamato Kogyo Co. Ltd.

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