A $100 million investment that began last year to improve Dofasco's primary steel manufacturing process as well as improving its environmental performance is being matched this year with a $150 million upgrade to the company's galvanizing and Galvalume coating operation.

The $100 million  Primary Optimization Program, which began last year, will allow Dofasco to produce more steel using less energy with a lower environmental footprint.

This year's investment of $150 million in upgrades to the galvanizing and Galvalume operations will see two old galvanizing lines shut down to be replaced by one state-of-the-art facility and one completely refurbished line. "This will greatly enhance our ability to make advanced high-strength steels that are demanded." said Dofasco Vice President of Technology and Continuous Improvement, Sean Donnelly. Donnelly also noted, "The parent company is willing to invest its money in Hamilton because we have a track record of implementing upgrades like these, on time and on budget.

New Galvalume capability:

• Produce 236,000 tonnes of Galvalume in widths up to 1537mm (60.5")
• Best in class product features
• Target first time prime Galvalume is May, 2012
• Servicing construction and service centre sectors
• Gauge range .25mm - 2.3mm (.0098" - .091")
• Width range 610mm - 1537mm (24" - 60.5")
• Metallic coating AZM001 - AZM210
• Galvalume Plus (Acrylic) and passivation treatment
• Strip cleaner to provide optimum surface quality
• This line will include furnace modifications, new coating pot equipment and strip tension control for high quality coating appearance and coating weight control
• In-line surface conditioning and tension levelling for high quality surface and flatness.

New Galvanizing capability:

• New heavy gauge galvanizing line
• Target first time prime is March 8, 2013
• 700,000 ton throughput (averaging 92.4TPOH)
• 1mm - 4.3mm (.040" - .168")
• 610mm - 1651mm (24" - 65")
• Galvaneal or Galvanize
• Coating 30g/m2 - 375g/m2 per side
• Tempering/Tension Levelling/Passivation
• Construction and Auto (structure and semi exposed).