EVRAZ shutting down operations in Claymont
Steel company EVRAZ shutting down Claymont steel mill, work to continue for 2 months
CLAYMONT, Del. (AP) -- Steel company EVRAZ is shutting down its operations at a steel mill in Claymont.
The company says that over the next two months about 375 employees will complete processing and shipping of existing products and prepare the mill to be shut down. The company says it will consider restarting operations as soon as market conditions improve.
A small crew will remain to maintain the site.
"It's sad, it's very, very sad. A lot of people had a lot of years there and everybody's life is changed," said Joe O'Brien, who has worked at the plant for more than 15 years.
The company's Claymont operation makes steel plate and custom plate products for industrial customers. The work being done at Claymont will shift to EVRAZ facilities in Portland, Ore., and Canada.
"Unfortunately, market conditions continue to be challenging and low market visibility makes it difficult to foresee when positive changes will occur," said John Zanieski, executive vice president of flat products and recycling at EVRAZ, in a statement.
The company said it is evaluating its options for resuming operations at the mill with the help of Gov. Jack Markell's office.
The plant along Philadelphia Pike and the Delaware River is 93 years old.