AK Steel Corporation said that the #5 electric arc furnace at its Butler Works sustained some damage July 1st 2011 when molten steel inside the furnace breached the furnace shell causing damage to the furnace and some of its components.

Steel production at the plant resumed on July 2nd 2011 utilizing other electric furnaces at the plant which were not impacted by the #5 EAF incident.

The company said that it does not expect any adverse impact to customer shipments resulting from the incident.

The company said it is continuing to investigate the root cause of the incident while crews begin to make repairs to the furnace and its auxiliary equipment.

At this time, company officials have neither an estimate of the cost nor date for completion of the repairs, which will not impact ongoing operations at the plant.