From its very beginning in 1962, Bethlehem Steel's Burns Harbor Division was planned and built to be the finest integrated steel plant in America. Every phase of the steelmaking process, from raw material handling through finished product, is closely controlled. Quality is built into each operation. The plant layout ensures maximum efficiency; west-to-east material flow eliminates backtracking and minimizes material handling cost.

Superior sheet starts with the best steelmaking

From start to finish, Burns Harbor sets industry standards in steelmaking quality, consistency and chemistry control

To produce finished sheet products with superior internal properties, surface quality and formability, it is essential to start with clean steel with tightly controlled chemistry. The three basic oxygen furnaces at Burns Harbor use a sophisticated, computer-controlled process to convert molten iron into steel. Through controlled processes and testing, steel chemistry is rigidly balanced to meet exact specifications for sheet production.

Computerized ladle treatment and desulfurization produce steel with superior cleanliness, surface quality and formability

Ladle treatments and desulfurization are further examples of the technology being used at Burns Harbor to produce a cleaner steel with improved properties. A desulfurization station removes sulfur from the hot metal, reducing inclusions that impair formability. Computerized ladle metallurgical treatment accurately matches liquid steel chemistry to specific customer requirements.

• Continuous casting produces internally clean slabs with excellent surface qualities
• Basic oxygen furnaces and the ladle treatment station make quality steel with precise chemistry
• Putting the most advanced technology in the hands of the most experienced people
• Computer-controlled processing is designed into every stage of steelmaking

Today's steels are highly complex products that are quality engineered for specific end uses.

Advanced computer technology has been integrated into all Burns Harbor operations to assure maximum control and consistency in steel chemistry, dimensional accuracy and surface quality.