wiredInUSA February 2019

EDITOR

Expansion plans are very much at the forefront in this issue of wiredInUSA, with the addition of Keystone Consolidated Industries (KCI) to Liberty Steel USA, creating one of the USA’s largest producers of wire rod. The deal will allow Liberty to increase its capacity by five million tons by 2020. The acquisition also follows closely on from Liberty Aluminium’s $500 million purchase of Aluminium Dunkerque, Europe’s largest aluminum smelter. The KCI range of products is made from American-produced steel and consists of a diverse line of steel products, including steel billet, wire rod, reinforcement mesh, welded wire, agricultural wire fence, prestressed concrete strand, bar and coiled rebar used in the construction, agricultural and automotive industries. Full details are on page 9. The Wire Association International (WAI) has announced the appointment of WT Bigbee as the 66 th president of the association for a one-year term. Mr Bigbee joined the WAI in 2011. In addition to his role as president, and a second term on the association’s board of directors, he will serve on its conference programming, exhibition planning and oversight committees. Turn to page 10 for more.

David Bell Editor

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wiredInUSA - February 2019