My Hometown

[sparks]

Well, close anyway. I live just across the river. Worked here briefly in the late 70's during the final furnace upgrade to 400 tons of steel melting at one heat. Fascinating place to work at. The Wiki needs some tweeking.

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northwestern_Steel_and_Wire

Maybe some of you folks remember products from this place. Or other stuff from Lawrence Bros or National Mfg. hardware products.

PS......we are still home to Wahl Clipper Corp.


Sparks

[glenn kangiser]

Interesting, Sparks.  Another victim of cheap offshore labor and mechanization in other countries I guess. 

The new Japanese steel mills were much more mechanized and dimensionally stable than the old worn out US unionized mills so of course corporations switched to them to maximize profits... and now they are out to many more countries with the people of the US losing jobs as a result of profit bottom line being the determining factor.

Nothing about loyalty to country or our people.

The corporate loyalty is to money and the cheapest place to get things done in the world.  It is no longer about the US economy, but a global economy with the citizens of the US dropping to 3rd world status.

[apaknad]

the short sighted a---oles aren't selling much steel now though are they?

[sparks]

the short sighted a---oles aren't selling much steel now though are they?

That's true apaknad. The mill was dormant for a few years then purchased by Liggett&Platt. It's a mini mill now....employs about 400 people. Mostly coiled rod steel. A mere shadow of what used to be made there.

I hear some plans for expansion might be in the works.......time will tell.


Sparks

[glenn kangiser]

That is about the only thing going in the US - the minimills are about the only way they can continue.