Steel Strip

UK manufacturing output rose at its fastest pace since July 2004 in February, with firms also pushing through hefty price increases. The CIPS/RBS Purchasing Managers Index rose to 55.4, ( an index above 50 indicates expansion) up from 53.2 in January and well above market forecasts of a slight dip to 53.0. Export orders also [...]

AK Steel Holding Corp. said Wednesday it has reached a tentative settlement with union workers at its Middletown Works plant that would end a year-old lockout fought over the steelmaker’s demands for lower labor costs.

Leaders of the Machinists union, who had earlier scheduled an evening meeting to mark the lockout’s one-year anniversary, weren’t immediately available [...]

Work at Llanelli’s Trostre steelworks will grind to a halt next month.Workers have been told to stay at home for the first two weeks of April, and that their paypackets will be cut in half for the same period.
The Corus facility’s staff have reacted angrily to the announcement, with trade unions and politicians also expressing [...]