For Immediate Release

Public Relations Division
Public Affairs Department
1170 Eighth Avenue
Bethlehem, PA 18016-7699
(610) 694-3711 - Phone
(610) 694-1509 - Fax

BURNS HARBOR, Ind., August 16, 1996 -- A $20-million project aimed at increasing steelmaking capability at Bethlehem Steel's Burns Harbor Division by nearly 400,000 tons a year is now complete.

At the heart of the "Big Heat" project was increasing the size of the ladles used during the tapping of each of the Division's three basic oxygen furnaces (BOFs). Using larger ladles to receive the molten steel from the furnaces has enabled the Division's steelmaking department to increase the amount of steel made in every BOF heat from 285 to 305 tons.

Overall, the "Big Heat" project included procuring 20 new, larger ladles as well as making various improvements throughout the steelmaking shop to accommodate their use. For instance, more than a dozen cranes throughout the steelmaking department were upgraded to enable them to handle heavier loads. Ladle passageways were enlarged. And the vacuum degasser, which is used to further purify some of the steel made in the BOFs, was equipped with a modified turret that enables it to handle the larger ladles.

Also, in conjunction with the project, a third iron reladling and treatment station is being added at the BOF shop to increase the amount of iron available to be converted into steel in the BOFs.