Rocky Mountain Steel Mills came has announced the startup of its new $30 million furnace for melting steel scrap. The new unit replaces two old furnaces. It offers state of the art energy efficiency and also advanced emissions controls. Rocky Mountain Steel announced plans to invest in a new furnace in 2002 as part of its ongoing plant upgrades. The installation work began several months ago.

The startup of the new furnace comes as the 720-worker Pueblo plant also readies for the reopening of its seamless pipe unit. The unit produces pipe and tubular products for the Oil Country Tubular Goods industry at an annual rate of 100,000 tons. The first seamless pipe shipments are scheduled for February.

The mill also produces standard and premium rail, high and low carbon rod, coiled rebar and seamless pipe.

Oregon Steel CEO Mr James E. Declusin said in a statement Thursday that the improvements position the Pueblo plant to better compete on the global steel market.